Half of Brits believe the price of a pint is unaffordable

More than half (52%) of Brits believe the price of a pint of beer is now unaffordable, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), as prices soar above £7 in the capital.

In 2019, a similar survey put out by YouGov and commissioned by CAMRA found that 42% of adults believed a pint to be too expensive.

According to the results of the 2022 survey put out last week, there has been a 10% hike in the number of people deeming a pint unaffordable, with 52% of people responding as such.

A drop in consumer spending power, spiking energy bills and rising costs are all contributing to the price hike, leading CAMRA to plead for government support.

Nik Antona, chair of CAMRA, said: “The news that half of people think the average price of a pint is unaffordable is a cause for concern for the future of the Great British pub.

“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 reining in their spending.

“As well as encouraging everyone to continue to support pubs, social clubs, and taprooms, CAMRA is calling on governments across the UK to urgently take action to safeguard the future of the UK’s beloved locals.”

CAMRA has asked the government to consider the new, lower rate of tax for draught beer applying to containers of 20 litres and above, so that all pubs and small brewers can benefit, an energy price cap for hospitality businesses, as well as a cut in VAT on food and drink served in pubs, clubs, and restaurants.

The organisation is also calling for a reform of the Pubs Code for England and Wales, in order to bring more tenancies under the protections of the code and give more tenants the right to buy beer at a competitive price on the open market.

In January db reported that beer prices across the UK were set to rise by 50p, with pints in London soaring to £7 due to rising inflation rates.

And this was before the ensuing hike in energy bills affecting both consumer spending and hospitality businesses this year.

Despite these challenges, global craft beer is projected to grow at a CAGR exceeding 8% between 2022-2030, according to a new report.

The data, from Research & Markets, stated how, in 2020, the global craft beer sector was worth over US$95 trillion, but showed how the impact of COVID-19 was unprecedented. Read more about the projected growth of craft beer and how the pandemic has affected the sector here.

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