According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the average cost of a pint of draught lager in the on-trade jumped 2.8% in the year to October 2024, rising from £4.67 in 2023 to £4.80
Meanwhile the cost of a pint of draught bitter increased 0.7% year-on-year according to the figures, from £3.89 in October 2023 to £3.92.
CAMRA national chair Ash Corbett-Collins told The Morning Advertiser (The MA): “The ever-increasing cost of a pint in pubs is a constant worry for hardworking publicans, tenants and pub-goers.
“If the price continues to rise it risks pushing even loyal patrons away from their local pubs, taprooms and social clubs.
Scrambling to survive
“The sustained price rises are of no fault of the hardworking pubs, and their tenants, who risk closure if the price of their pints are not raised.
“Instead, this is a result of a torrent of factors that have left pubs scrambling to survive. The burden of unfair business rates plus sky high costs of goods and energy bills, have forced pubs to raise their prices.”
The ONS data meant draught lager costs have risen 1.9% so far this year, from £4.70 in the first quarter of 2024 to £4.79 in the third quarter of the year.
In addition, the bitter category has seen a 1.3% upswing so far this year, rising from £3.87 in Q1.
“We urge Governments in all four nations of the UK to do more to support consumers, community pubs and breweries, including on making business rates systems fairer for pubs”, Corbett-Collins continued.
However, while the cost of both bitter and lager rose during the 12-month period, the numbers increased at a slower rate than between Q1 and Q3 last year.
Astronomical impact
In addition, the data marked the lowest year-on-year increase since January 2022, when inflation started to rise.
A spokesperson for the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) told The MA: “This is the lowest year on year increase since January 2022, and at a time when the industry is having to face an extra £650m increase to the cost of doing business following the Budget.”
Though lager prices have seen a 29% hike over the past five years, with a pint in pubs costing £3.72 pre-pandemic.
Against pre-pandemic levels, bitter prices have soared by 26%, rising from £3.11 in October 2019.
The BBPA spokesperson added: “Prior to the Budget, the average pub was making just 12p a pint, and brewers making on average just 2p per bottle of beer.
“We are calling on Government to urgently review the phasing of Budget announcements and the astronomical impact of these so we can continue to thrive, and businesses don’t have to make tough decisions, such as passing on these costs to the consumer.”
