Scots drinks bill £145 more than UK average

A new survey has found that the average Scot’s drinking bill for the year is £964, while they will spend a further £499 on eating out.

Researchers who sampled more than 3,000 customers across the UK found growing evidence of “austerity fatigue”, with visits to pubs up 2.2 per cent. The average amount spent in Britain’s pubs was £819, while restaurant visitors spent £496 on average.

Almost half of those surveyed throughout December said their level of disposable income had come down in the last six months.

The study found the first signs of an increase in consumers going to pubs, bars and restaurants for 18 months.

Paul Hemming, partner at Zolfo Cooper, the firm which carried out the research, said: “Consumers are increasingly aware that the economy is experiencing a prolonged trough, not a dip, and that wages and growth will not be rising dramatically any time soon.

“The data shows that people are now starting to adjust to these changed circumstances.

“After at least two years of virtuous belt-tightening, they are fed up of being stuck indoors by an austerity curfew and are now beginning to venture out more often.

“Even though consumers continue to keep close watch on their spending, this is good news for operators with strong propositions because ultimately no leisure business can survive without customers coming through the door.”

Drinkers in the north-west of England spent the most, at £999 on average.