Many pubs may be forced to put up the price of pints by 30p due to rising costs in the hospitality sector.
According to reports, eight out of ten pubs have already had to hike their prices to cover high staff wages as well as increases in soaring energy bill costs and to make up for costly supply shortages.
Industry experts have reportedly warned that, in the south of England, a £6 pint is likely to become the norm.
Publicans have made a plea to Rishi Sunak to freeze the alcohol duty rate in the Autumn budget to give the hospitality industry some let-up after being shut for months during the pandemic.
Dave Mountford, co-founder of the Forum of British Pubs, reportedly predicated that a pint could be marked up by an extra 20p to 30p.
The UK hospitality sector has spent months navigating chaos in supply chains, diminished staff availability and rising energy costs and over the past few months has endured stock and delivery shortages.
It is alleged that drinks wholesalers Matthew Clark and Bibendum are set to increase their prices by between 3.5% and 5% beginning as soon as next month.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce a landmark overhaul in the way that alcohol is taxed as part of next week’s Budget announcement.