Blow to football fans as price of a pint soars by 36 per cent since the last World Cup

Blow to football fans as price of a pint soars by 36 per cent since the last World Cup With the World Cup getting underway on Thursday, football fans in Britain are now paying around £1.50 more on average for a pint than they were during the last tournament Football fans are now paying more than a third more for a beer than they were during the last World Cup, new figures show. The price of a pint has, on average, risen by almost £1.50 since the last tournament in Qatar in 2022 – an increase of 36 per cent. Despite overall inflation over the same period sitting at around 16 per cent, Brits are paying much more at the pub as the hospitality sector continues to struggle following tax hikes. In the UK, the average pint price is £4.52, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, with Oxford the most pricey city for a beer at £6.75 - almost 25p more than the average in London. Millions of fans expected to flock to boozers over the next six weeks to cheer on England and Scotland and they'll be paying a lot more than they were when Argentina lifted the trophy the last time. But even through they are shelling out more than ever for a drop, those back home will be getting a far better deal the the supporters who have travelled to the United States, Canada and Mexico. One fan shared an photograph from the bar at a warm up match in the US at the weekend, which featured an $18 premium large beer, about £13.50. Pubs could be set to serve a bumper 55 million extra pints this summer - if captain Harry Kane and England make it to the World Cup final, that is. For each pub across the country, that translates to the average venue selling an additional 1,240 pints, or an extra 14 kegs across the tournament. The Mirror has been a long champion of the industry’s cause through its Your Pub Needs You campaign. With so many boozers having closed in recent years, owners and tenants are relying on the home nations to stay in America for as long as possible. Around two UK pubs closed each day in the first three months of the year amid pressure from higher taxes and regulatory costs, according to industry figures released last month. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) warned that the closures equate to the loss of around 2,400 jobs, with a particular hit to younger workers. Figures from the trade organisation show that 161 pubs closed across Britain in the first quarter of the year. It represents a 26 per cet jump against the same period last year, with local pubs having come under pressure from rising labour costs, taxes and caution among consumers. Early this year, the Government announced business rates support for pubs after warnings from the sector that further tax changes could lead to more closures and job losses. A 15% tax relief for pubs and music venues came into effect last month. Measures from last November’s budget, such as an increase in the minimum wage, still added to a significant jump in business costs for pubs and brewers. The BBPA said the latest closure figures highlight a need for longer-term changes to business rates and a wider overhaul of taxes on the hospitality sector. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “The scale of these closures is avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade, but their profits are wiped out by a disproportionate tax burden and huge costs. For too many, the sheer weight of taxes and regulatory costs have forced them to shut up shop, which will only hurt communities, workers, and the wider economy. “This underscores why Government’s business rates relief was so necessary, and the support such a welcome relief. We want to work with Government to establish a permanent long-term plan that will deliver permanently lower bills, a fairer system and ultimately protect this treasured sector.”