by Tony Halstead
Licensees are to be hit with a string of price rises from national brewers' increases that could force up the price of a pint by 8p.
Carling brewer Coors, which also brews Grolsch, Worthington and Caffreys, is set to increase wholesale list prices by an average 2.5%, which translates into a hike of 5p on the average price of £2.20 for a pint of Carling. The changes are due on 6 February.
The price of Guinness is also set to rise, with an 11-gallon keg increasing by £3.45 from 1 February.
The retail cost of beer to customers could be as much as 8p extra when licensees and bar operators add on their own margins.
Scottish Courage has also confirmed rises are in the pipeline, but no date has yet been set for the company's announcement.
Carlsberg UK will time its rise from 14 February, but says it has kept the increase down to the lowest possible level.
"It must be recognised that our costs are not immune from increases ahead of routine inflation, and increased costs include fuel and high energy charges," said a Carlsberg spokesperson.
"It should be remembered that only about 10% of the price of a pint of beer currently goes to the brewer, so the new price structure represents good value for quality products."
The Guinness increase translates into an rise across the bar of 8p per pint or 3.3% if stockists stick to the Diageo-recommended retail sales price, said the company.
Diageo said there would continue to be heavy investment in the brand in the run up to St Patrick's Day and also around Six Nations Rugby.
It said there would be other price increases of 4.5% on Baileys, 2.5% on a 70cl bottle of Pimm's and a 1.7% increase on a 70cl bottle of Gordon's Gin.
Interbrew said it will not be reviewing its prices until May and has pledged no increase until that date, other than any duty rise announced by the Chancellor.