Average cost of a pint rises 2.1% since 2020

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Rising cost: the average price of a pint of lager has increased by 78p in the past 10 years (image: Getty/Juanmonino)

The average cost of a pint of draught lager has increased by 9p since August 2020, according to official figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

When comparing the cost in the same month (August) over the previous three years, in 2019 the average was £3.71, 2020 was £3.80 and in August this year, the figures found the price on average was £3.88.

The latest increase is similar to that of 2019 to 2020 where in the former, the average cost of a pint of draught lager was £3.71 and, in the latter, £3.80 – a difference of 9p and percentage-wise, up by 2.4%.

Price increase history

How much has the average cost of a pint risen over the past 10 years?

August 2021 – 2.1% rise to £3.88

August 2020 – 2.4% rise to £3.80

August 2019 – 1.6% rise to £3.71

August 2018 – 1.7% rise to £3.65

August 2017 – 2.9% rise to £3.59

August 2016 – 1.2% rise to £3.49

August 2015 – 2.4% rise to £3.45

August 2014 – 2.1% rise to £3.37

August 2013 – 3.1% rise to £3.30

August 2012 – 3.2% rise to £3.20

August 2011 – 4.7% rise to £3.10

Should the price increase by the same amount over the next 12 months, a 2.1% rise would mean the average cost of a pint will be about £3.96.

ONS figures revealed the price has steadily risen when looking at the data over the past decade, with the biggest incremental increase was from August 2010 to August 2011 – a rise of 14p equating to just under 5%.

The smallest rise was from August 2015 to August 2016 where the price increased by just 4p – a percentage increase of just over 1%.

Looking ahead

This comes after night-time economy adviser and operator Sacha Lord predicted the price of a pint will rise by 25p, in line with the 7.5% VAT increase to cover the overall losses felt by operators.

The cut, from 20% to 5%, came into effect from 15 July 2020 and was set to end on 31 March 2021. However, from 1 October 2021, the rate increased to 12.5%. until 31 March 2022.