Average pint of beer hits over £4 for the first time as brewer costs spiral

A PINT now costs more than £4 on average for the first time.

Drinkers typically pay £4.09 for lager, 13p more than at the start of the year and 42p more than before the pandemic, official figures show.

A YouGov survey for the Campaign for Real Ale found 52 per cent of drinkers think £4 is too much, fanning fears they will shun bars and hasten the decline of British pubs.

Camra boss Nik Antona said: “Businesses that have survived the pandemic are now being threatened again by inflation and spiralling energy costs — just as consumers are dealing with the cost of living crisis and reigning in spending.”

Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin previously called on the Government to tackle tax differences between supermarket and pub booze, which he says means food retailers are subsidised for selling cheap pints.

Pubs are facing higher prices from brewers who have blamed soaring electricity, gas, glass and transport costs.