HEINEKEN is increasing the price of its beers within weeks, including Fosters, John Smith and Amstel.
The move will see pubs having to pay more for the brewer’s drinks due to “unprecedented costs”.
The Dutch beer maker said it will start charging 15.8% more per keg from January 16, 2023.
Heineken owns major brands like John Smith, Fosters, Amstel, Birra Moretti, Kronenbourg, Desperados, Bulmers and Old Mout.
The rise will affect pints on draught sold by pubs, as well as bottled and canned beers sold in both pubs and supermarkets.
The rise could hit drinkers if they choose to pass on the wholesale price rise to drinkers.
Pubs and supermarkets could decide to absorb all or part of the hike to avoid losing customers.
We asked major pub chains and retailers if they will hike prices and will update this article when know more.
Heineken says the move is due to rising energy prices which is having an impact across the sector.
A spokesperson for Heineken said: “Like many UK manufacturers, Heineken UK is facing unprecedented cost increases on a number of critical inputs used to make beer and cider.
“This is predominantly driven by the significant rise in energy prices, which is also having a dramatic impact on the costs of other goods including glass, aluminium and malted barley.
“Whilst we have undertaken initiatives to increase our efficiency and reduce cost volatility, the scale of these input cost increases means we have no choice but to change the wholesale price of our products to our customers.
“We appreciate these are challenging times, and we are committed to working with our customers to support a strong and sustainable category going forward.”
Heineken has also said that it will reduce the alcohol content in Fosters from 4% to 3.7%.
The brewer has confirmed that this is due people opting for lower percentage drinks as part of a “healthy lifestyle.”
A company spokesperson said: “Reducing the alcohol content of one of our highest volume brands will also help remove millions of alcohol units across the UK, aligned to our long-held position of promoting moderation.”
Heineken warned in February that prices would have to rise because of soaring inflation.
Last week, The Sun reported that boozers will be hit with a £360million blow, just as rising costs have sent the price of a pint soaring.
This is unless the a freeze on beer duty is brought back.
The end of the freeze will add 33p to the typical cost of a lager — which is already up by eight per cent to £4.13.
The cost of raw ingredients, including wheat and barley, are now rising more than the rate of inflation.
The freeze announced by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng in September gave a ray of hope — only for successor Jeremy Hunt to abandon it a few weeks later.
The new Chancellor is due to unveil the Autumn Statement tomorrow (Thursday, November 18).
Alan Mahon, founder and boss of Brewgooder, one of the UK’s fast growing beer brands, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had driven up ingredient costs.
Mr Mahon said a £7 pint could become “the norm rather than the exception in many places — particularly bigger cities”.
