The average price for a pint of standard lager has hit the £2 barrier for the first time, according to The Publican Newspaper's annual Market Report survey of more than 1,000 publicans.
However, the regional variations are such that while drinkers in the South East will hardly remember a time when they paid less, the further north you go the more likely you are to find people who are shocked by the figure.
The cheapest pints of lager are found in Scotland, Wales and both sides of the Pennines where the average is £1.91. In the South East the figure stands at £2.14, followed by East Anglia at £2.05 with the South West being the third region to break the £2 mark.
Lorna Harrison, Editor of The Publican Newspaper, said: "The first time a pint of lager touched £2 was two years ago in the South East.
"As more pubs break through the £2 barrier, the psychological pressure is released and customers grow used to paying that price.
"We anticipate that this time next year most customers won't bat an eyelid when charged over £2 for a pint."
Wherever you go a pint of bitter is still cheaper than the cold, fizzy stuff. The average for a pint of bitter is £1.78 - up 3p on last year - and even in the South East it is still under £2 at an average £1.93.
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, said that the Market Report's findings were representative and admitted that the cost of a pint of lager was steadily increasing in the North because of the rising cost of running a pub.
He acknowledged that customers would begrudge paying more for a pint but said that they "would have to look at the value for money that the pub offered them".
The survey analysed price increases across four sectors - lager, bitter, wine and whisky.
The average price increase across three of the four categories was less than, or very close to, the rate of inflation, running at 1.9 per cent in June.
Wine is the most erratically priced drink. The national average for a small glass of wine (125ml) is now £1.57, up 4p on last year. But there are some wide variations in the category.
The North West has this year seen wine prices shoot up by 12p a glass showing that the traditionally-dominated region has a growing interest in wines. However, in the South East an average glass is now £1.78 - just 3p more expensive than last year.
A shot of whisky costs, on average, £1.31 - 2p more than last year.
Lorna Harrison said: "This year's survey shows that the North, South divide is closing. However, with a price difference of 30p for a pint of bitter and 31p for a glass of wine, there's still a considerable way to go."
The full Market Report 2001 can be found in our Special Reports section, and is also being sent out to The Publican Newspaper's 37,000 readers today (Friday). It covers a range of topics including smoking, foot-and-mouth affects, rural pubs, attitudes to the government, red tape and employment laws.