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THE
REAL PRICE OF BEER IS CHEAPER TODAY (IN REAL TERMS) THAN EVER
BEFORE.
DO
YOU BELIEVE WHAT THE POLITICIANS TELL YOU?
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In March 1815, publicans were advised that Porter was
45s per barrel in London but 50s in the Country. Stout was 55s in London
and 60s in the Country.
The London retail price of Porter was 4½d per Quart.
The 1924 Agricultural Wages Act, coming into force January 1925, set the
minimum weekly wage at 30 shillings.
A pint of bitter then costing 5 to 9 pence depending on strength and UK
location.
PUBLIC
HOUSE PRICES
In
1966 a pint of Bitter cost £0/1/10d
(£0.0916 today)
In
1966 the average wage is recorded as £20 per week
(Doctors and footballers on £100 pw and farm labourers on £13 pw)
Based
upon a 40 hour week that equated to £0.50 per hour
That
£0.50 would purchase 5.5
pints. (5.46)
(One FT source gives the average wage as
£25.65 per week, that works out at 7 pints ..... seems this is
London wages)
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In June 1969 it was reported that a
pint of Guinness would cost
up to 2/3d (11.25p) in a lounge bar, but only 1/9d (8.75p) in the
average public bar.
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By 1971 the average National UK wage (for men) was £28 per week.
Based on a 40 hour week and post decimalisation Bitter at 12.5p / pint
One hour's work would buy 5.6 pints.
(That same FT source gives the average wage as
£38.00 per week, that works out at over 7.5 pints !)
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In October 1971 it was said that
the average East Anglian wage was £28.70 for a 45.9 hour week.
This compared with £25.90 in 1970 for a 46.4 hour week.
(National average in 1971 was £30.93 for a 44.7 hour week)
East Anglian farm labourers wages in 1971 averaged £19.51 for a 46.8
hour week.
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Beer prices reported July 1972
|
Product |
Percentage
alcohol |
Pence
per pint |
|
| National Brewers |
Youngers
IPA |
4.6 |
13
-13.5 |
|
|
Bass
Charrington IPA Best |
3.8 |
14-17 |
|
| Courage
Best Bitter |
4.1 |
13 |
| Ind
Coope Best Bitter |
3.4 |
13 |
| Watney
`Special' |
3.4 |
12.5 |
| Whitbread
Trophy |
3.7 |
13 |
| |
|
|
| Regional Brewers |
Adnams
Best Bitter |
3.5 |
12 |
|
Batham |
4.7 |
13 |
| Devenish |
2.7 |
11
- 12 |
| Greenhall
Whitley |
3.9 |
13 |
| Greene
King IPA |
3.7 |
13 |
| Hall
Woodhouse Badger Best |
4.0 |
13 |
| Jennings
Castle |
3.7 |
12 |
| Theakstons
Best |
3.6 |
13 |
| Trumans
Special |
3.9 |
15 |
| Vaux
- Sampson |
3.9 |
13 |
| Wolverhampton
& Dudley - Banks's |
3.8 |
13 |
| Youngs |
3.5 |
13 |
|
|
|
On 15th June 1973 in was
reported that forktruck drivers, working for Watney Mann
were paid £32.40 gross per 40 hour week. Overtime was paid at £1.20
per hour.
With best bitter then at 14 pence a pint, the normal hourly rate would
buy 5.78 pints.
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By 1976 it is reported that an average pint of beer cost 32p per pint
With the average wage then £72 per week the hourly rate of a 40 hour
week
would purchase 5.5 pints (5.625).
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| |
| BEER PRICES IN NORWICH -
April 1992 |
| BATEMANS XXXB |
1046 |
1.30 |
| ELGOODS CAMBRIDGE |
3.8% |
1.30 |
| BODDINGTONS |
1036 |
1.40 |
| MARSTONS PEDIGREE |
1042 |
1.50 |
| FULLERS ESB |
5.5% |
1.70 |
| MAULDOONS BLACK ADDER |
1055 |
1.45 |
| BLACKTHORN 44 SPECIAL |
1046 |
1.50 |
| ARCHERS HEADBANGER |
1065 |
1.70 |
| CIDER |
| BURNARDS DRY |
6% |
1.60 |
| BURNARDS SWEET |
6% |
1.60 |
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In June 2009 the Office for National Statistics gave the average
weekly wage as £489
Based
upon a 40 hour week that is £12.23 an hour.
A 3.8% BITTER then cost on average, £2.80 a pint.
So the average hourly gross pay would buy 4.4 pints.
Even assuming a 35 hour week it only works out to be
5 pints (4.99), still less than in 1966.
.........................................................................................
DECEMBER 2012.
Average weekly earnings given as £546.8, based upon a 38 hour week.
That is £14.39 per hour.
My favourite 3.8% BITTER then £3.10 a pint (Avoiding more expensive
outlets)
So 4.6 pints was the current allowance.....
Tax increases on beer in the new year threatened to drastically reduce
that!
Needless to say my pension is nowhere near the `average wage'.
APRIL 2013
The Office for National Statistics gives current average weekly
earnings as £442.
Unfortunately my tipple is now £3.20 a pint.
My pension remains stagnant...
So the allowance is down to 3.63 pints.
JULY 2016
Average wage said to be £502 per week.
Beer at £3.40 a pint
At a 38 hour week = 3.87 pints per hour
- The economy is booming! |
