Beer prices to increase by 5p a pint

DRINKERS are facing more misery as beer prices are set to go up by an average of 5p a pint.

Britain’s biggest brewers are putting up wholesale prices, forcing landlords to pass on increases to drinkers.

The rising cost of raw materials, utilities and distribution are being blamed for the hikes, as well as the government’s beer-duty escalator.

Molson Coors will increase wholesale prices by an average of 3.1 per cent from Monday and Carlsberg, Heineken, Fosters and Stella Artois are expected to follow.

Carlsberg will put up prices by an average of 5p a pint from January 21, while Heineken have told landlords they will raise the wholesale cost of beer from February 4. Fosters also has plans to raise the price of a pint by 5p.

The increases will pile further woe on landlords who face dwindling customer numbers as more people drink at home.

Thousands of pubs are already closing across the country as drinkers turn to supermarkets to take advantage of cheaper alcohol, including discounted promotional offers.