Ella Scott
Late-night hangs, afternoon tipples, and post-work debriefs: your local pub has probably seen the best (and the worst) of you. But it’s bad news for alcohol drinkers as a popular pint has increased in price by almost seven percent in the last year - and here’s why.
Despite younger people choosing to go sober, and the fact that landlords may make a measly 13p on a £6 vat of beer, strong levels of activity remain in UK hospitality venues, as per an Oxford Market Watch snapshot.
Data released in February suggested that customers were spending an average of 145 minutes in venues, spending an average of £26.83 per visit, reported The Morning Advertiser.
However, if you’re a cider drinker, you may have found that the mean price is a little higher than it was last year.
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This is because a beloved alcoholic has apparently risen by a jaw-dropping 32p in the last year.
Fresh off the press: Westons Cider has released its Cider Report for 2026, revealing that in 2025, the value of the total cider category in the UK was a jaw-dropping £3.17 billion.
Other positive tidbits included sporting events and hot days in Britain can ‘potentially deliver over three times the average daily sales for an operator’, and that sales of low alcohol and non-alcoholic alternatives were up by 37.3 percent.
However, the report also stated that draught cider now costs an average of £5.46 in London, and £4.79 in pubs across the UK.
According to Westons, that’s an increase of 6.9 percent and more than double the level of inflation.
The report says that higher taxes, rising raw material prices, and broader brewery cost increases are to blame for the higher cost per pint.
“Breweries face higher production and distribution costs, while pubs and bars are then hit again through refrigeration, lighting, heating and other day-to-day running costs,” insolvency expert Molly Monks, from Parker Walsh, told The Sun.
The Westons report comes amid news that the ‘daycap’ drinking trend is replacing excessive evening binging.
The idea is that instead of chugging endless pints of Guinness past 10pm, Gen Z is likely to reach for a light and refreshing Spritz, small serves, or a fruity cocktail at dinner time, as per the Bacardi 2026 Cocktail Trends report.
“Think Thursday afternoon happy hours, slow-paced afternoon parties and drinks that complement, not derail, the rest of the day,” the document said.
Regarding the ‘daycap’ trend, Sean Kerry, vice president for global on-trade for Bacardi said: “Around the world, we’re seeing a move towards more meaningful drinking moments, whether that means in-person get-togethers with friends, discovering flavours rooted in local culture, or embracing new forms of creative expression through cocktails.”
So the real question is: are you still team cider, or will it be an Aperol spritz for you this evening?