Four cans for less than one pint in a pub.

The other day, I walked into my local Costcutter and picked up four pint cans of beer — for less than the price of a single pint in my neighbourhood pub (£6.85, to be exact).

It’s crazy when you stop and think about it. Are pubs and the wider hospitality industry being priced out of the market?

More importantly: can we fix it without blowing a hole in the Treasury?

Here’s where I think we should start.

1. Extend Draught Relief — and Make It Bold

If the goal is to get punters back into pubs, we need to back the businesses that actually pour pints. Draught relief is a good step, but it’s too timid. Let’s extend it, make it bolder, and apply it to a wider range of drinks. The government says it wants to support hospitality — this is one of the simplest, most direct ways to do it.

2. Bring Back Tiered VAT

We’ve seen it work before. During the pandemic, the government cut VAT for hospitality and tourism, giving the sector some much-needed breathing space. Why not bring back a tiered VAT system? Lower rates for pubs, restaurants, and venues — higher rates for off-trade booze. It levels the playing field and rewards the businesses that keep our high streets alive.

3. Tackle the Real Problem: Cheap Supermarket Booze

Here’s the heart of it: cheap, high-strength alcohol in shops undercuts pubs and fuels public health problems. It’s a lose-lose.

Minimum unit pricing or a ‘cheap booze levy’ could help close the price gap between supermarket shelves and the local. And yes, it could also raise revenue — without forcing the government to sacrifice its fiscal goals.

This Is About More Than Pints

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about the price of a drink. It’s about backing an industry that supports jobs, brings communities together, and is part of our cultural fabric.

The government doesn’t have to lose out — it just needs to back hospitality with smart, targeted measures that make sure pubs can survive and thrive.

Final Pour

We all love a bargain, but let’s make sure there’s still somewhere to go when we want to drink that pint in good company.