Average pint price up more than 30p since January

The rise, which equates to 8% in percentage terms, means the average price of a pint is now £4.58, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

When looking at the 2023 numbers, the sharpest hike was from January to February where the cost increased by 22p (up 5%) whereas the rises since then have been smaller month on month.

However, in July last year, the average price was £4.09 – 49p less than the same month in 2023 and almost 12% cheaper.

Year-on-year comparison

Comparing with two years ago, the cost in the same month in 2021 was £3.88 – almost one fifth less than 2023.

In 2020, the price was 20% cheaper at £3.79 while 2019 saw the average cost at £3.70, which was almost a quarter (23%) less expensive than last month.

The ONS figures start in February 1987 where the price was 92p meaning in the past 36 years, the average price of a pint of lager has risen by nearly 400% to the price in July 2023.

British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Pubs and brewers have faced huge cost increases across their supply chains in the last few years, and despite this the cost of beer has only increased by 12%, half the rate of other consumer goods that have risen on average 24%. Brewers have fought hard to absorb costs to avoid passing them on to consumers. However, as the costs of doing business mount, and, most notably, beer duty is put up by over 10%, brewers have had no choice but to increase prices to stay in business.

“No business wants to put up prices in a cost-of-living crisis, but brewers have been forced to by rampant inflation and an increased overall tax bill of £225m in duty. Our sector needs the Government to bring down inflation and rule out any further increases in beer duty so our brewers and pubs can thrive, and consumers can continue to enjoy affordable beer.”

Global costs

Meanwhile, recent research from Finder UK revealed a pint of beer in the UK was 127% more expensive​ than the worldwide average cost.

The financial experts estimated the average UK pint price was £5.90 as of June 2023 – more than 100% more than the global average of £2.60.

Finder UK head of communications and consumer advocate Matt Mckenna said: “Pubs are struggling with rising costs and this has been passed on to consumers in the form of higher pint prices.

“Shrinking profit margins are certainly an issue for pubs but it is hard to imagine many Brits will lose their love of heading to the pub for a pint after work or at the weekend.”