Higher beer prices

Scottish and Newcastle has informed wholesalers in the UK that the cost of beer will go up 3.5% next year.

Chances are we’ll be seeing more of the same from brewers, small and large, everywhere.

A spokesman for Scottish & Newcastle said the entire industry faced cost inflation of between 7% and 9%, pointing to the rising of energy, aluminium, diesel and water.

“We’re trying to make our increases reasonable but have to acknowledge there’s been some huge inflationary costs on our business,” he said.