Pubgoers across the UK are set to pay more for popular beers from February after Heineken confirmed price increases across several major brands.
The Dutch brewer will raise prices by 2.7 per cent on a range of drinks supplied to pubs.
Brands affected include Birra Moretti, Amstel, John Smith’s Extra Smooth and Inch’s cider.
The increase will also apply to Heineken Zero and Old Mout cider when it comes into force next month.
Heineken said the changes follow rising costs faced by the brewing and hospitality sectors.
The move mirrors price rises introduced by the company in 2024, where last year, Heineken UK increased draught prices by 2.97 per cent.
The cost of bottled and canned drinks was also raised by 2.5 per cent in the same year.
Not all products will be affected by the latest increase though, as the price of Murphy’s stout will be frozen for publicans in 2026.
The company said the decision followed strong sales growth for the Irish stout, as the impact of the price rise is expected to be felt most clearly on premium lagers.
Birra Moretti’s average UK price of £6.04 per pint is set to rise by 2.7 per cent to roughly £6.20 per pint
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Birra Moretti currently averages £6.04 per pint across the UK, but once the 2.7 per cent increase takes effect, the average price could rise to around £6.20 per pint.
That represents an increase of approximately 16p on a single drink.
Heineken confirmed the price rise applies at a wholesale level, but Publicans are widely expected to pass on the higher costs to customers.
Many pub operators are already facing higher overheads, such as rising taxes, increased staffing costs and additional environmental charges.
The introduction of the UK’s Extended Responsibility packaging scheme has added further costs for businesses.
A Heineken spokesperson previously said the company had kept price rises ‘as low as possible’
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GETTYHeineken acknowledged the pressure on the sector in comments to trade publication The Morning Advertiser.
A spokesperson for the brewer said the company had kept the increase to a minimum.
“We know pubs are still shouldering significant cost pressures.”
They added: “The operating environment remains challenging with inflationary inputs such as employer taxes and the introduction of the UK’s Extended Responsibility packaging scheme adding to the burden.”
Heineken said it was offering targeted savings and greater price certainty to support pubs.
The company said these measures were designed to help venues manage ongoing cost pressures.
Heineken is not the only major brewer to announce price rises from February.
Rival firm Asahi has also confirmed increases across its portfolio.
This affected brands such as Peroni, Fuller’s London Pride, Grolsch, Meantime pale ale and Cornish Orchards cider.
The price of Peroni is expected to rise particularly sharply, with the current average price sat at £6.14.
Following the increase, the average price could reach £6.36, a rise of around 22p per pint.
Asahi has not disclosed the precise percentage increase applied to each product.
The simultaneous price rises from two of the UK’s largest brewers are expected to affect pubs nationwide.
Industry data shows beer prices have risen steadily in recent years.
Higher energy costs, supply chain pressures and wage increases have all contributed to rising prices.
Trade bodies have repeatedly warned that pubs have limited scope to absorb additional costs with the latest increases set to take effect during February.
Drinkers visiting pubs after that point are likely to see higher prices on menus.