THE average pint of beer now costs £5 and could keep increasing as breweries and pubs face tough times.

It comes as the number of licensed premises in the country has dropped below 100,000 for the first time since records began.

Industry experts are blaming Covid, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, a minimum wage increase, and high interest rates squeezing publicans’ margins.

In 2019, pubs were making 27p of profit on a pint and the average price nationally was £3.81.

Now, they’re only making 12p and the average price has risen to £4.80, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.

As drinkers are facing their own financial battles with the cost of living crisis, so are their favourite watering holes.

Pubs were first hit during the on-off nature of lockdowns, when beer was simply poured down the drain.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine led to an increase in the energy price for breweries, reliant on heating during the cooking process.

Sam Hagger, the owner of three Leicestershire pubs, told The Times that energy had shifted from being his fourth greatest expense to ranking second.

“We have been forced to reconsider when the ovens are turned on each morning.

“Every venue will possess two machines for washing glasses. Rather than switching both on simultaneously at 10am, one will come to life at that time and the other will follow suit at 1pm when trade picks up.

JD Wetherspoon chief Sir Tim Martin disclosed that Covid has altered the consumption patterns of drinkers.

One possible explanation is that the lockdowns resulted in behavioral modifications. The routine trip to the neighborhood pub was superseded by supermarket visits and home stays. This new practice has been more difficult to discard than anticipated for many.

He stated that supermarkets are exempt from paying VAT on food sales, contrary to pubs, and they also profit from lower business rates.

In more recent times, breweries have been contending with a similar price rise that has also impacted many of their customers personally, this being the increase in interest rates.

While pubs recieved grants from the government in programmes like Eat Out to Help Out, breweries only received loans.

The cost to service those loans has gone up as interest rates have shot up.

Strikes, protests, and other disruptions had all affected people’s ability top physically get themselves to the pub, another expert said.

The number of new licences opening is also declining too, with only 3,222 opening last year.

Just under 4,000 opened in 2022 (3,989) and 4,532 opened in 2021.

A pub is marketing the “cheapest pints” in the UK for as low as £2.30 – nearly half the average price.

The Waggon and Horses in Oldbury, West Midlands, is offering all beers, ciders, and ales for £2.90 or less in an attempt to entice patrons to frequent traditional local pubs.

The nostalgic Black Country pub stated its aim to “give back” to locals with discounted beer while many individuals are experiencing hardship during the cost of living crisis.

A pint of Stella will now set you back just £2.80, while Carling, Coors and John Smiths is £2.40 and a pint of Thatcher’s Gold is £2.30.