This St Patrick’s Day Hunt for the Rising Cost of a Pint of Guinness as Alcohol Duties Freeze

St Patrick’s Day Pints Just Got a Little Pricier

Pepe, you’ll be glad you’re sipping a dried‑up Irish penny anyway, because according to the latest RIFT crunch, a pint of “black stuff” (yes, that beloved stout) will hit your wallet a whopping 69p more this Sunday than it did on last year’s parade—with the price creeping up since November of last year, despite the booze‑freeze that the government promised would hold the line.

What’s Breaking the Milk‑shake of Prices?

Stout – the price – dunno what the shenanigans are – actually increased two pence from last November, bringing the average cost to £4.73.
Whisky & Gin – each gains two pence on a 30ml measure versus November 2023.
Wine – the only other staple that’s doing a £0.19 jump in price.
Broader brews – pint of bitter falls by two pence, cider down five pence.

Why the Freeze Doesn’t Keep the Pints Cheap

Below is the snappy breakdown of how the “freeze” on alcohol duty has (humorously) fallen short:

Stop² – the government’s freeze was supposed to keep rates level.
Reality³ – pubs still juggle soaring overheads: staffing, rent, energy, y’all.
Result⁴ – even a glass of watery “Black & Bitter” can cost more if the ESL (Extended Super Larder) charges are still high.

² That was the message in the last (November) Autumn Statement.

³ Pubs need cash, money, and yes, even the world’s finest bubble.

⁴ The practical takeaway: the price of a pint of stout has risen by £0.37 in the last year alone, giving that same delightful brew a £0.69 heft compared to its 3‑year‑ago cousin.

RIFT’s Take

Bradley Post, MD of RIFT, threw his words into the wind: “The pints of Guinness will be flowing this Sunday, but punters will probably have to pay a fair bit more compared to last St Patrick’s Day.”

So grab your mates, your pint glass (or a just‑be‑slightly‑pregnant cup), and enjoy the Irish whiskey‑singers for “they’ve got your back” – like a drink on the house (just not, just…you get the point!).