It wasn’t long ago that a tenner got you a round of drinks, maybe with change for a packet of crisps. Now, that same note barely covers a single pint of lager or ale, especially in central London hotspots like Covent Garden or Soho.
Blame it on inflation, rising energy costs, and the fact that landlords have to pay rent that rivals the GDP of a small country. Oh, and don’t forget the taxman, who takes a hefty cut of every pint poured.
Seriously, if you think about it too long, you’ll start doing math in your head and ruin your night. So don’t. Just sip and smile.
The “Great British Pint” Tax
That ten-pound pint isn’t actually all beer. About a third of it goes straight to the government in the form of alcohol duty and VAT. That’s right—you’re basically buying a £3.30 pint of beer and a £6.70 “I live in a major city” tax.
At these prices, you might as well order your pint and then politely ask for a mortgage application with it. Some pubs are even starting to offer payment plans for a round of four.
And let’s not even talk about what happens if you accidentally spill it. That’s not a spill—that’s a minor financial crisis on the floor.
