Ken's charge could affect pint cost

London Mayor Ken Livingstone's controversial decision to charge motorists £5 a day to drive into central London could lead to a more expensive pint.

The congestion charge - which comes into effect in London on February 17 - will force motorists entering the city centre between 7am and 6.30pm on Monday to Friday to pay a tax of £5.

Brewers delivering beer to pubs and bars in the city will also be forced to fork out the extra cash and that cost may be passed on to licensees.

London-based brewer Fuller's said the congestion charge could mean it will have to put its prices up. "All costs of legislation that are applied have to be paid for somewhere in the business - and the congestion charge is no exception," a spokeswoman said.

"We are weighing up the increases of costs that impact on our business before we determine the level of increase this year - this includes not just the congestion charge, but increased labour costs, pensions, national insurance, fuel, raw materials, parking costs and a whole host of other factors," she added.

But Young's, which is also based in London, said it would not be putting its prices up. Spokesman Michael Hardman said: "It's not that serious. It's something that we can clearly do without but we won't be putting the price of beer up."

It is feared that other brewers across the country, who deliver beer to pubs in the capital, may be obliged to raise prices in the future.

Last week, Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries and Coors Brewers both announced price increases affecting brands including Carling, Grolsch, Banks's Bitter and Marston's Pedigree. Both companies blamed additional legislation costs, national insurance contributions and pensions for the increases.