Nation drinks less as alcohol taxes hit home

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) yesterday revealed that the average price of a pint in a pub has broken through the £3 barrier for the first time, partly because of “huge” tax increases.

Its report revealed that alcohol consumption increased by 0.6 per cent last year, but was 11 per cent less than in 2004, and was below the European average.

The BBPA said UK drinkers in this country paid the second highest taxes in the EU on beer and wine and the fourth highest on spirits. The study also found alcohol taxes in the UK are now eight times higher than in France and 11 times higher than in Germany.

The North East is the cheapest region for beer, pub wine costs least in the Midlands while Wales is best for spirits