Pints too expensive?

GroovYF · 01-Nov-2012, 11:17

Putting people off drinking?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/20162357

It might be too expensive if you go out each night and drink 5 pints, but surely not for a casual drinker? Plus 5-pints per night person is going to knacker his internal organs and cost the NHS (and Mr Taxpayer) money when the inevitable happens.
So if it's putting people off, then maybe that's a good thing.

Obviously not so good for the landlord. On my drive to work at least 6 or 7 pubs I pass have closed down in the last two or three years, but that's due to the economy and maybe "local pubs" are no longer visited as they once were.

milou · 01-Nov-2012, 11:52

Is that person in the photo actually old enough to drink?

#BigKahunaGettingOld

neo-Cranks · 01-Nov-2012, 12:00

It's put me off going out a few times but has probably increased my overall alcohol intake as booze is so much cheaper in the supermarkets so I end up buying 3 for £10 on wine and caning that in a night rather than going out and getting 3 pints for the same price.

Ned · 01-Nov-2012, 12:02

£3 pint, I should be so lucky, over £4 in Brighton now.

Beef~ · 01-Nov-2012, 12:03

£3 a pint made me laugh. I'm usually pleased to get some shrapnel back from a fiver. Went to a bar in Soho and I was paying £4.50 for about 250ml of very average Kronenburg in a bottle!

I think the worst place I've been so far was Perth where it was $10 a pint in the local pisser.

andy · 01-Nov-2012, 12:09

To be fair you can easily get pints for around £3 in a fair few boozers in Central London - particularly if you go to a Sammy Smiths. If you go to a bar, though, then expect to have overpriced shite beer in a 330ml bottle.

Beef~ · 01-Nov-2012, 12:20

Without wanting to sound like an alcoholic , there is one beer in the sam smith's pub which is less than 3 quid and its about 2%. The pure brew stuff - i.e. the premium lager - is the wrong side of 4 quid. I think finding anywhere else that serves you a pint of beer for less than 3 quid anywhere remotely near central is going to be quite a rare find.

andy · 01-Nov-2012, 12:22

Does that include bitters? I.e. real ale? I'm sure I've paid about £3.50 or so for some pretty good pints but, meh, I barely look at the amount I'm paying these days as with plastic it just doesn't feel real.

EvilGrin · 01-Nov-2012, 12:28

There's a few issues here (ordered, in my opinion, by importance).

1) Cheap alcohol in supermarkets/off-licenses and the like massively undercutting what you pay in a pub.
2) Brewery owned Pubs gouging their tenants on prices for beer (where as they sell to freehold a lot cheaper).
3) Tax.

Down my local brewery owned pub I pay £2.70/pint. The freehold pub across the road is £2.50 a pint. The supermarket is £10/8cans. The Bargin Booze is £12/16cans.

The current situation will probably destroy the pub trade entirely (except for larger town centres) if it's allowed to continue. Encouraging people to drink more, at home behind closed doors. I don't see how this is a positive outcome.

To fix it I think we need comparative pricing of pubs vs shop alcohol. If anything the store bought drink is too cheap.

Bilb · 01-Nov-2012, 12:55

There's also a big problem with decent beer, in that there is a huge tax on higher alcohol beers. Such as craft brewed beers, get whalloped. So rather than creating decent inspired beers, the brewers end up brewing much lower alcohol swill.

I'm yet to find a craft beer enthusiast who would have a session on 6% ale.

However the alcoshitpop that they serve in test tubes at the pub is completely different!!

burundi · 01-Nov-2012, 13:39

I've actually just started getting out to the pub again after a 8yr absence and a couple of our locals do decent ales, they were doing Old Peculier a couple of weeks ago, only had two but it's nice on draught, was about £2.90 a pint I think.

Inertiaman · 01-Nov-2012, 13:49

Utter bollocks to say it curbs heavy drinking. All the cunts that used to sit in the pub and pour their scaffolding money over the bar now to it at home and give the money to tescos instead.

The Big Kahuna · 01-Nov-2012, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by milou

Is that person in the photo actually old enough to drink?

#BigKahunaGettingOld

OI!

Dave · 01-Nov-2012, 17:14

I stopped drinking beginning of last year. Used to drink every weekend without fail, and have a few cans through the week.

Saved a fortune, and feel much better for it.

I very rarely now drink, on special occasions I will but thats it.

leady · 01-Nov-2012, 18:01

I just think its largely a generational thing, my dad goes to the boozer without failure 3 nights and for the saturday night out with mum etc.

that whole social cohesion aspect is dying with the oldies, the younger you are the more pubs are places to get drunk and have a laugh.

There are very few cheers bars anymore...

Rojin · 01-Nov-2012, 18:32

Supermarket deals, bargain booze et all just make it so cheap. I can buy a slab of beer now for £6 cheaper than I had to pay 22 years ago... and that was from a cash and carry which was the cheapest option! That's bound to have a negative impact on pubs, I know that locally here hardly anybody is going out on the beer, they're all drinking at home and going clubbing late at night. Pubs that used to be rammed at 9pm on a Saturday 5 years ago, now have barely a dozen customers (and our group was 8 of those!).

Nomad · 01-Nov-2012, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

I stopped drinking beginning of last year. Used to drink every weekend without fail, and have a few cans through the week.

Saved a fortune, and feel much better for it.

I very rarely now drink, on special occasions I will but thats it.

does it help you appreciate lou's crusty baileys puke face makeup trick the next morning more ?

Eja Cool8 · 02-Nov-2012, 11:43

Scottish Govt. attempting to make one's choice easier-at least for drivers..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...itics-20166468

gimpchimp · 03-Nov-2012, 02:08

Move up here gents. Fairly certain I can get two pints out of a fiver.

Nomad · 03-Nov-2012, 09:34

yet not 100% sure since it's never been your round!

DoZ · 04-Nov-2012, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by burundi

I've actually just started getting out to the pub again after a 8yr absence and a couple of our locals do decent ales, they were doing Old Peculier a couple of weeks ago, only had two but it's nice on draught, was about £2.90 a pint I think.

One of my favourites, though I'm yet to find it on tap. Coop and the like round here never have it on offer at the moment and sell it £2.35 a bottle :-(

DoZ · 04-Nov-2012, 13:33

And since that post I've been to Iceland where old peculiar is on a 3 for £5 :-)

01-Nov-2012, 11:17	#1
GroovYF Octave Doctor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Halifax Posts: 22,278	Pints too expensive? Putting people off drinking? http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/20162357 It might be too expensive if you go out each night and drink 5 pints, but surely not for a casual drinker? Plus 5-pints per night person is going to knacker his internal organs and cost the NHS (and Mr Taxpayer) money when the inevitable happens. So if it's putting people off, then maybe that's a good thing. Obviously not so good for the landlord. On my drive to work at least 6 or 7 pubs I pass have closed down in the last two or three years, but that's due to the economy and maybe "local pubs" are no longer visited as they once were. __________________ photoblog

01-Nov-2012, 11:52	#2
milou keeping it elderly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Coast hugging Posts: 6,081	Is that person in the photo actually old enough to drink? #BigKahunaGettingOld __________________ 100% zimmer photoblog

01-Nov-2012, 12:00	#3
neo-Cranks poster of the month Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Do a barrel roll! Posts: 1,492	It's put me off going out a few times but has probably increased my overall alcohol intake as booze is so much cheaper in the supermarkets so I end up buying 3 for £10 on wine and caning that in a night rather than going out and getting 3 pints for the same price. __________________ History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

01-Nov-2012, 12:02	#4
Ned my post count gets me dates Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brighton Tournaments Won: 1 Posts: 4,190	£3 pint, I should be so lucky, over £4 in Brighton now. __________________ Geckos \| Reptile Supplies \| Car Insurance

01-Nov-2012, 12:03	#5
Beef~ crypto-pinko-fascist type Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: on the left Posts: 3,979	£3 a pint made me laugh. I'm usually pleased to get some shrapnel back from a fiver. Went to a bar in Soho and I was paying £4.50 for about 250ml of very average Kronenburg in a bottle! I think the worst place I've been so far was Perth where it was $10 a pint in the local pisser. __________________ res ipsa loquitur

01-Nov-2012, 12:09	#6
andy previously milk! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: London Posts: 3,347	To be fair you can easily get pints for around £3 in a fair few boozers in Central London - particularly if you go to a Sammy Smiths. If you go to a bar, though, then expect to have overpriced shite beer in a 330ml bottle.

01-Nov-2012, 12:20	#7
Beef~ crypto-pinko-fascist type Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: on the left Posts: 3,979	Without wanting to sound like an alcoholic , there is one beer in the sam smith's pub which is less than 3 quid and its about 2%. The pure brew stuff - i.e. the premium lager - is the wrong side of 4 quid. I think finding anywhere else that serves you a pint of beer for less than 3 quid anywhere remotely near central is going to be quite a rare find. __________________ res ipsa loquitur

01-Nov-2012, 12:22	#8
andy previously milk! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: London Posts: 3,347	Does that include bitters? I.e. real ale? I'm sure I've paid about £3.50 or so for some pretty good pints but, meh, I barely look at the amount I'm paying these days as with plastic it just doesn't feel real.

01-Nov-2012, 12:28	#9
EvilGrin click here to reset post count Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lancs, UK. Posts: 5,578	There's a few issues here (ordered, in my opinion, by importance). 1) Cheap alcohol in supermarkets/off-licenses and the like massively undercutting what you pay in a pub. 2) Brewery owned Pubs gouging their tenants on prices for beer (where as they sell to freehold a lot cheaper). 3) Tax. Down my local brewery owned pub I pay £2.70/pint. The freehold pub across the road is £2.50 a pint. The supermarket is £10/8cans. The Bargin Booze is £12/16cans. The current situation will probably destroy the pub trade entirely (except for larger town centres) if it's allowed to continue. Encouraging people to drink more, at home behind closed doors. I don't see how this is a positive outcome. To fix it I think we need comparative pricing of pubs vs shop alcohol. If anything the store bought drink is too cheap. __________________ Edugeek - Techies in Education!

01-Nov-2012, 12:55	#10
Bilb Amazeballs! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Elite Elevated Equine Division Posts: 11,283	There's also a big problem with decent beer, in that there is a huge tax on higher alcohol beers. Such as craft brewed beers, get whalloped. So rather than creating decent inspired beers, the brewers end up brewing much lower alcohol swill. I'm yet to find a craft beer enthusiast who would have a session on 6% ale. However the alcoshitpop that they serve in test tubes at the pub is completely different!! __________________ @TomJJarvis

01-Nov-2012, 13:39	#11
burundi WARNING: May contain nuts Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Prestonia Posts: 10,530	I've actually just started getting out to the pub again after a 8yr absence and a couple of our locals do decent ales, they were doing Old Peculier a couple of weeks ago, only had two but it's nice on draught, was about £2.90 a pint I think. __________________ Want UnLtd Mobile Data & Texts for £12 a month PAYG? - Order a free GiffGaff SIM via this link and get an additional free £5 credit. At £12 a month data is unlimited with no fair usage policy! ** Have you added yourself to the trickery members map ** WANTED: Something witty to go here.

01-Nov-2012, 17:14	#14
Dave To curve or not to curve? Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Behind the Curve Posts: 4,575	I stopped drinking beginning of last year. Used to drink every weekend without fail, and have a few cans through the week. Saved a fortune, and feel much better for it. I very rarely now drink, on special occasions I will but thats it.

01-Nov-2012, 18:01	#15
leady to post or not to post Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,587	I just think its largely a generational thing, my dad goes to the boozer without failure 3 nights and for the saturday night out with mum etc. that whole social cohesion aspect is dying with the oldies, the younger you are the more pubs are places to get drunk and have a laugh. There are very few cheers bars anymore...

01-Nov-2012, 18:32	#16
Rojin pro poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gloucester UK Posts: 715	Supermarket deals, bargain booze et all just make it so cheap. I can buy a slab of beer now for £6 cheaper than I had to pay 22 years ago... and that was from a cash and carry which was the cheapest option! That's bound to have a negative impact on pubs, I know that locally here hardly anybody is going out on the beer, they're all drinking at home and going clubbing late at night. Pubs that used to be rammed at 9pm on a Saturday 5 years ago, now have barely a dozen customers (and our group was 8 of those!). __________________ Arse to this I need a beer!

02-Nov-2012, 11:43	#18
Eja Cool8 Member shown actual size Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 9,009	Scottish Govt. attempting to make one's choice easier-at least for drivers.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...itics-20166468 __________________ "A friend of mine described her disgust as two Blackwater mercs, shortly after introducing themselves, proposed a two-on-one sex act that involved one of the men ejaculating on the other." Steve Fainaru: "Big Boy Rules"

03-Nov-2012, 02:08	#19
gimpchimp free bandwidth? Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Posts: 6,975	Move up here gents. Fairly certain I can get two pints out of a fiver. __________________ gimpchimp breachlan \| myth weavers

03-Nov-2012, 09:34	#20
Nomad i fear no midget Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,649	yet not 100% sure since it's never been your round!

04-Nov-2012, 13:33	#22
DoZ my other post is a smiley Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,798	And since that post I've been to Iceland where old peculiar is on a 3 for £5 :-) __________________ www.doz.me.uk