The Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) is pleading with the Government to relax the smoking ban and the 9 p.m. watershed involving families, as reports from 6,000 members throughout the country indicated a "devastating" loss of business.
The call followed a heated National Executive Council meeting in Dublin today.
"If the current situation continues then it will exacerbate the damage already done to the Irish pub and the tourism industry and the jobs already lost," said Mr Seamus O'Donoghue, President of the VFI.
"Publicans and hoteliers simply cannot sustain the current loss of business and the Taoiseach and the Government must take the situation in hand and commit to some form of compromise."
"We must be in a position to provide a reasonable service for customers who smoke, providing an area/room removed from the bar area where they can have their cigarette," he added
Mr O'Donoghue said that trade has dropped off dramatically with many customers arriving later and staying for shorter periods. He claimed that once the summer season ends and the weather deteriorates further loss of business and employment is inevitable.
"In addition to the smoking ban, the 9 p.m. ban on families with children is also devastating our business and I have no doubt devastating family holidays," he said.
He urged the Government to act before pubs and the tourism industry are "completely devastated".