The Morning Advertiser understands the changes will be duty exclusive and come into effect for all deliveries of Heineken UK’s draught beer and cider brands from Monday 5 February.
However, the firm has frozen prices on its packaged beer and cider.
Considerable efforts
A Heineken UK spokesperson said: “We have informed our on-trade customers that we are freezing the price on packaged beer and cider and increasing draught wholesale price by an average of 1.73%.
“We have made considerable efforts across the business to reduce costs and drive efficiencies so that we can minimise the impact of inflation for our customers.”
In addition to the draught price hike, Heineken UK will also lower the ABV of its John Smith’s Extra Smooth brand from 3.6% to 3.4%, effective from 5 February on keg products and Monday 29 January for packaged beers.
The spokesperson added Heineken had “spent many months” perfecting the new version of the “much-loved beer”, including “extensive” testing with consumers to “ensure the same classic taste”.
Promoting moderation
They continued: “We know consumers are increasingly choosing lower ABV products as part of a balanced lifestyle.
“Acknowledging this trend, we have made the decision to brew John Smith’s Extra Smooth ale at a slightly lower ABV.
“Reducing the alcohol content of the UK’s number one keg ale brand removes millions of alcohol units across the UK, aligned to our long-held position of promoting moderation.”
This comes as data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) earlier this month revealed the average cost of a pint of draught lager had increased 10% in the year to December 2023, rising from £4.24 in 2022 to £4.70.
