THE average pint of beer now costs £5 and could keep increasing as breweries and pubs face tough times.
It comes as the number of licensed premises in the country has dropped below 100,000 for the first time since records began.
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Industry experts are blaming Covid, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, a minimum wage increase, and high interest rates squeezing publicans’ margins.
In 2019, pubs were making 27p of profit on a pint and the average price nationally was £3.81.
Now, they’re only making 12p and the average price has risen to £4.80, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.
As drinkers are facing their own financial battles with the cost of living crisis, so are their favourite watering holes.
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Pubs were first hit during the on-off nature of lockdowns, when beer was simply poured down the drain.
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine led to an increase in the energy price for breweries, reliant on heating during the cooking process.
Sam Hagger, the owner of three Leicestershire pubs, told The Times energy had gone from his fourth biggest expense to his second.
“We’ve had to look at the time that ovens get turned on in the morning.
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“Each site will have two glass washing machines. Instead of them both being on at 10am, one will be turned on at 10am and the other will be turned on at 1pm as trade increases.
JD Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin said that Covid had changed drinkers’ behaviour.
Every Premier League stadium ranked by the number of pubs nearby with one boasting over 130 local boozers
“Probably one factor is that lockdowns caused a change in behaviour.
“Going to supermarkets and staying at home replaced the habitual visit to the local pub. The new habit has taken longer to break than many imagined.”
He said supermarkets don’t pay VAT on food sales, but pubs do and supermarkets benefit from lower business rates.
More recently, breweries have been battling against the same price rise many of their patrons were also personally affected by – interest rate increases.
While pubs recieved grants from the government in programmes like Eat Out to Help Out, breweries only received loans.
The cost to service those loans has gone up as interest rates have shot up.
Strikes, protests, and other disruptions had all affected people’s ability top physically get themselves to the pub, another expert said.
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The number of new licences opening is also declining too, with only 3,222 opening last year.
Just under 4,000 opened in 2022 (3,989) and 4,532 opened in 2021.
Pub sells ‘cheapest pints in the UK’
A PUB is selling the “cheapest pints” in the UK for as little as £2.30 – almost half the average cost.
The Waggon and Horses in Oldbury, West Midlands, is flogging all beers, ciders and ales for £2.90 and under to encourage punters to drink in traditional local boozers.
The old-fashioned Black Country pub said it wanted to “give back” to locals with bargain beer while many people struggle during the cost of living crisis.
A pint of Stella will now set you back just £2.80, while Carling, Coors and John Smiths is £2.40 and a pint of Thatcher’s Gold is £2.30.
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