Dublin - Ireland has seen 1,500 pubs close since 2001, two groups representing pub owners told national broadcaster RTE Thursday.

The Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland said that high taxes on alcohol, the rise in people drinking at home and a reduction in the amount people drink had led to the closures.

The organizations said thousands of jobs have been lost.

There are now only 9,500 pubs in Ireland, down from 11,000 seven years ago.

They said Ireland had the highest taxes on alcohol in Europe and they called on the government not to increase the taxes in the upcoming budget on October 14. (dpa)