Sainsbury's sells beer for 33p a bottle

The off-trade beer deals in the lead-up to Christmas have hotted up with Sainsbury's offering bottles of Stella Artois and Grolsch for just 33p.

The supermarket giant has begun its three cases for £20 deal including 20x284ml bottles of Stella, 20x275ml bottles of Grolsch, 15x440ml cans of Fosters and Carlsberg.

The offer means that customers can buy a pint of standard lager for just 57p and shows that the off-trade giants have simply ignored the duty increase imposed by the Chancellor.

"These deals will increase the pressure on pubs this Christmas," Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne previously told the MA.

"With the credit crunch as well and people having less money, I think we will see a lot of parties at home rather than down the pub.

"There are also companies cutting spending on Christmas parties. I think pubs will have to think long and hard about the hours they open over Christmas and the staff they have scheduled for work."