I had a couple of sneaky halves this lunch time whilst shopping for squid, which by the way I couldn't find any of in three separate supermarkets begging the question if there's a World shortage or if it's a traditional Easter thing. Anyway back to the beer. My real ale appeared to be priced as it has been the last few months but a punter who ordered some dodgy lager or other noticed that what he paid £2.65 for last night cost him £2.90 today. He queried it, but it was confirmed to be correct and a result of the recent budget.
So, so much for the 4p a pint, Mr Darling promised us. This drinking malarkey is beginning to become expensive.
6 comments:
Yes, not only am I intrigued by how quickly the price goes up (see recent post), but also by how much. I understand the "4p a pint" can vary because it'll depend on the strength of the beer, and there'll be a certain amount of overhead, but I noticed one of my usual bevvies in one of my usual pubs had gone up 25p!
In fact, I've done the maths, and your beer has to be around 6% before it goes up by more than 4p a pint (and anyone producing less than 6m litres will have a smaller increase still).
And VAT on the additional won't make the difference!
I suspect what we're seeing is rising costs of hops, malt and power being incorporated as well.
I recall a letter from the Facers brewer some months ago in What's Brewing about the increased prices of hops and barley, as well as fuel and other peripherals. However these were surely incorporated in price hikes pre budget. I think someone is on the rob (probably the pubcos)
I do agree the pubs usually take the opportunity of a tax increase to increase their prices as they can conveniently blame the Chancellor.
However if last year was as poor for the pubs as claimed then they may have had to up prices even without a rise in cost of beer and tax.
If less people sup pints in the pub and all else is equal the pub starts to lose money or at least sees its profits cut. The likely result is the cost of a pint goes up.
Decreased sales (for various reasons), increased cost to produce beer (hops, barley, fuel) and increased tax all combine to increase the cost of the pint for the consumer which of course results in even less sales potentially . . . .
Never mind the price of a pint, whay about the price of a ball of mozzarella!
If it's the hops that are to blame, Shepherd Neame will end up brewing the chepest beers around :-)
Here in decent beer land, The Brunswick are still holding steady prices (from 1.50 a pint); I think the whole hops/malt price argument is a smokescreen for pubcos to screw out a bit more moolah to offset their losses sustained from homedrinking Wifebeater deals by Te$cos et al.
The rise in malt and hops is irrelevant in terms of the price rise. For example, Maris Otter has gone up 400% in 6 months but still accounts for just under a penny in the cost of a pint. S&N who have justified rises (yes probably due to wifebeater's declining sales) on these grounds are having a laugh. They use cheap German malt anyway.
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