Average price of a pint of lager in Britain likely to smash through £3 barrier by the Summer

As England football fans prepare to flock to pubs around the country to follow their heroes, they face being hit by a swingeing 16% tax increase on their beloved pint according to new figures released today by the British Beer and Pub Association.

Chancellor Alistair Darling is already due to increase tax by 4.5% in his March Budget.  But following the General Election, it is widely expected that any new Government would hold another snap Budget. Top of the list of potential tax rises is an expected increase in VAT to 20% and a further hike in beer tax by 5%. The average tax on a pint of lager could then rise from 80 pence now to an eye-watering 93 pence, pushing the average price of a pint through the £3 barrier to £3.09.  In London, fan face forking out nearly £4.30 for a pint of lager - with their tax bill from £1.06 a pint to £1.23

The tax story is just as sour for bitter. The average price of a pint of bitter could rise to £2.87, with tax increasing from 77 pence to 89 pence a pint.  In London a pint of bitter could hit £3.88, with tax rising from £1.00 a pint to £1.16.

Mark Hastings, Communications Director of the British Beer and Pub Association said:

"England fans will be crying into their pints by the summer if these tax hikes go ahead. We are already number 2 in the Beer Tax world table, winning that competition is one trophy hard-pressed England footy fans could really do without."