Drinkers of 11 popular beers in UK pubs issued 'unwelcome' warning

Big name beer brands have slashed the strength of their drinks - leaving customers angry. Some of the biggest brands on sale in UK supermarkets and across pubs in England have moved to slash the alcohol by volume (ABV) on booze.

The move, known as "drinkflation", has been slammed by Groslch, Sol, Kronenbourg, Fosters, Hophead, Banks, John Smiths, Carlsberg, Spitfire, Bishops Finger, Old Speckled Hen drinkers. Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman for Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said taxing lower ABV drinks can "inspire innovation" but a higher strength was "integral for certain style beers".

"Consumers deserve to have a choice at the bar, taproom or bottle shop, and it would be a shame to see tax bands create any form of limitation on that choice." Among the brands guilty are Heineken, which has slashed the strength of SOL-branded beers from 4.2% to 3.4%.

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Grolsch is being cut from AB 4% to 3.4% and Kronenbourg has been slashed from 5% to 4.6%. One booze drinker fumed on social media in the wake of the announcement: "I used to be quite partial to the old 5% Grolsch on draught a few years back. Just who exactly are these 3.4% beers aimed at?" Another wrote: "@Grolsch_UK just thought I’d let you know that 3.4% is not a premium pilsner is anyone’s book but yours.

"I hope there will be a price drop correlated with the drop in strength?" A spokesperson for Carlsberg Marston, which makes the drink, said it was "able to brew excellent beers with slightly less alcohol to deliver great taste and quality".

Hophead, Banks and John Smiths are also guilty, while Fosters has been slashed from 4% to 3.7%. Carlsberg lowered the ABV of its pilsner from 3.8% to 3.4% in 2023 and Spitfire Amber Ale, Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale and Old Speckled Hen Pale Ale have all dropped in strength too.

Heineken said: “We know consumers are increasingly choosing lower ABV beers and ciders as part of a healthy lifestyle. Acknowledging this trend, we have made the decision to brew Foster’s lager at a slightly lower ABV."