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<\/a><\/div>\nMolson Coors – not my favourite of the big boys though there isn’t much to like about any of them – have announced that Carling lager will reduce to 3.4%\u00a0 for their packaged versions . Packaged essentially means in bottle and nowadays, much more commonly, the can.\u00a0 It is for UK only and the lucky Carling drinkers in Ireland and elsewhere won’t be subjected to this.\u00a0 It will not apply to the version sold in the pubs and is being done to keep Carling competitive with its rivals such as Carling Pilsner and Fosters in the supermarkets.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe figures are quite startling. To reduce the alcohol by volume\u00a0 to under the threshold of lower duty, set at 3.5% will save the brewer – the brewer pays the duty – 20.35 pence per 440 ml can. Multiply this by the millions of cans produced and you can see the logic.\u00a0 Will this saving be passed on to the dedicated Carling at home drinker? Well,if history is anything to go by,no.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nNow you’ll likely be saying “So what?” I drink cask ale in the pub and at home I am discerning enough to buy something stronger and better. No doubt, but if like me you are a believer in the slippery slope\/ thin end of the wedge the you will see that this considerable saving is not just attractive to Carling producers but to others. Already we see a rash of 3.4% cask beers in free houses and is that difference passed in to customers? I would suggest not. Are most of them thin and watery? Yes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTo add another cliche while I’m in the mood for them, there is the law of unintended consequences.\u00a0 Beerwise, it is most famously manifested in the aftermath of the Beer Orders. on a smaller and more insidious scale it is happening to our beers. The strength of big brands brewed here is almost always weaker than the same beer brewed abroad and I doubt if you will find many preferring, say, UK brewed Stella to the Belgian version. And so on.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSo watch out. Your pint is already being attacked and affected in so many ways, but you might want to add abv reductions to your risk register.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn case you are wondering, the reduction in duty gives a saving of 25.13p a pint.\u00a0 Not to be sniffed at for some.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI just spotted this from my local brewery JW Lees:\u00a0<\/b><\/span>hhttp\/\/x.com\/Will_LJ\/status\/2082758472886542524?s=20t tps:\/\/x.com\/Will_LJ\/status\/2082758472886542524?s=20<\/span><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/x.com\/Will_LJ\/status\/2082758472542524?s=20<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n