Analysis of official data by The Morning Advertiser (The MA) revealed pint prices increased by 2.9% between January 2024 and January 2025, from £4.69 to £4.83.
However, the figures, from the Office For National Statistics (ONS), showed while the price of a pint of lager continued to rise, the acceleration rate was slower when compared with the previous 12-month period.
Comparatively, the price of a pint of draught lager in pubs increased by 10.8% over the previous 12-months, from £4.23 in January 2023 to £4.69 the following January.
Rising costs
The largest month-on-month jump in lager prices last year was between March and April, when the cost of a pint saw a 0.8% uptick from £4.71 to £4.75.
Draught bitter prices, however, decreased during this time, from £3.90 in January 2024 to £3.80 in January 2025 (2.5%).
The largest downturn in the cost of bitter was between December 2024 and January this year, when the price of a pint dropped from £3.94 to £3.80 (3.5%).
The cost of a pint of draught bitter in pubs jumped 9.2%, from £3.57 to £3.90, between January 2023 and January 2024.
Based on data from pubs across the country, the uptick comes as operators face rising costs across the board with a number of bills, including ENICs, set to rise from 1 April.
Meanwhile last month exclusive data from The MA showed the price of a draught pint was higher the ONS estimations, standing at £5.08.
Full impact
In addition, draught beer quality services frim Avani Solutions last week estimated the hospitality sector suffers losses of £212m annually due to beer waste.
British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) CEO Emma McClarkin told The MA: “With so many additional costs being piled on pubs and brewers, it’s no wonder that prices of a pint have had to creep up.
“Pubs and brewers do not have the luxury of absorbing more Government-imposed fees and, in order to keep the doors open, it means they have had to pass on costs to the customer.”
She continued: “The Government must consider the full impact of yet even more fees coming down the pipeline, such as the punishing EPR fees, including the cost to the customer and the wider consequences for the economy and job market.
“The Spring Statement should be used to reform business rates to make it fairer for the sector, delay new employment costs, and completely review the punishing and chaotically implemented EPR regime.”
