Figures released by the Office For National Statistics (ONS) yesterday (Wednesday 18 April), revealed the cost of a pint of draught lager rose by 48p (11.9%), from £4.02 in March 2022 to £4.50 in March 2023.
This was more than double the previous record-high year-on-year increase in over ten years, where pint prices increased by 23p (6%) between October 2021 and October 2022, rising from £3.92 to £4.15.
Comparatively, data from ONS showed draught lager prices increased 47p (11.8%) in the year to February 2023, from £3.98 to £4.45.
The Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) chief executive Tom Stainer said: “This data shows just how much households will struggle to enjoy a night out with friends, family, or colleagues.
Make ends meet
“With energy bills for businesses going through the roof and the cost of goods and employing staff rocketing too, pubs - and the breweries that serve them - have had no choice but to put up prices in order to make ends meet, despite doing everything they can to continue to welcome their customers."
Month-on-month, the cost of a pint of lager increased by 5p (1.1%), from £4.45 in February 2023 to £4.50 in March.
Over the past ten years, the average cost of a pint of draught lager has increased by 38%, from £3.26 in March 2013 to £4.02 in March 2023.
Draught bitter costs also exceeded record-highs in March 2023 with a 29p (8.4%) year-on-year increase, from £3.44 to £3.73, compared with the previous 10-year peak of 27p (8%) between October 2021 and October 2022.
Month-on-month draught bitter prices saw a 0.8% increase, from £3.70 in February 2023.
Over the past ten years, the average cost of a pint of draught bitter has increased by 31%, from £2.84 in March 2013 to £3.73 in March 2023.
Grossly unfair
The comes as a snap poll conducted by The Morning Advertiser last month revealed almost a third of operators had already been forced to increase beer prices by more than 5% in the six months to March 2023.
In addition, data from ONS earlier this week showed food inflation had hit a record 45-year high in the 12 months to March 2023, despite an ease to the headline rate of inflation.
Moreover, data from real estate intelligence firm Altus Group recently showed more than 150 pubs had already been lost so far this year.
Stainer added: “This is a make-or-break time for the licensed trade following the end to support with energy bills, and pubs and brewers facing imminent hikes in their costs. We believe pubs and social clubs will close because of this.
“Business rate relief schemes currently in place in England are due to end in 2024, so the Government needs to act soon.
“Pubs pay a grossly unfair portion of the total business rates bill, and proper reform is the only permanent fix to the issue. This will be a main focus for us when we launch our campaigning ahead of an expected Autumn fiscal event.”
