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Original poster

Anyone else fed up with rising alcohol prices?

112 replies

Lucytheluckyone · 24/05/2025 21:05

So for those who drink alcohol, anyone shocked by how expensive drinks are when out these days? I was out for a nice dinner with my husband last night - the place we were in was a ‘higher end place’ but the general bars (I’m in Edinburgh) are much the same. The cheapest glass of wine was £11.95 (175mls) and cocktails started at £14.00! We opted for a bottle of wine because on working it out had we gone with glasses it may have been £50 alone without even eating! In Edinburgh a cocktail has gone from £7(ish) 2 years ago to over £10! Anyone have this where they live?

OP posts:
Seventimesaday · 25/05/2025 08:57

mindutopia · 24/05/2025 22:16

I stopped drinking 2 years ago and based on my average spending, I’ve saved £11,500 in that time. Which I’ve very responsibly spent buying horses. ☺️

Yes, I gave up alcohol and now spend the savings on horses 🙈

Yorkshiremum80 · 25/05/2025 08:54

We go to our local tennis club, it has a lovely beer garden and is £4 a pint 😄

Wheech · 25/05/2025 08:54

Yes it has gone a bit crazy in Glasgow too. The fancy cocktails that used to be £9 are now £12 or more. There are actually still a few bars that have decent prices whilst not being a Wetherspoons, so I'm voting with my feet now. I understand that businesses have it hard with minimum wage and NI increases but my own wages haven't grown at anything like the rate of minimum wage or cost of living. I'm just not prepared to spend £8 to drink a glass of prosecco in a freezing cold bar any more.

AgnesX · 25/05/2025 08:51

youcannaecallherfanny · 25/05/2025 08:36

Try living in Scotland with our minimum 65p a unit pricing.

Because as per bloody usual the drunken few have spoiled it for the majority.

Scotland has a dire relationship with booze.

CharlieRight · 25/05/2025 08:49

I was shocked when I visited home a couple of years ago, everything seemed to have doubled in price (and halved in quality). I’m surprised that inflation had any more legs.

1dayatatime · 25/05/2025 08:48

And this is why so many pubs are going out of business.

40 years ago there wasn't much difference in the price of alcohol sold in pubs to the price of alcohol sold in supermarkets. Now the difference is massive.

Personally I would be in favour of removing the tax on alcohol when sold in a pub / restaurant / bar etc and increasing the price of alcohol sold in supermarkets in order to keep pubs alive and reduce harmful excessive drinking at home.

andtheworldrollson · 25/05/2025 08:44

Edinburgh just last week we paid 14 for 2 pints and a bag of crisps

Scotland cocktails normally starting at £7 or £8 so o think it was your location

Edit to rant
soft drinks however are the same prices alsmot as alcohol -£5 for a pint of coke or lemondade - that just seems unreal to me

AllyCart · 25/05/2025 08:44

StScholastica · 25/05/2025 08:42

As Nd as f they add a spring of mint, and call it a nohito, it's £7 🤣

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I wonder if you could smuggle your own sprigs of mint in and sneakily add one?

😂

AllyCart · 25/05/2025 08:42

youcannaecallherfanny · 25/05/2025 08:36

Try living in Scotland with our minimum 65p a unit pricing.

A 175ml glass of wine is around 2 units, so £1.30 minimum price.

I don't think you'll be seeing much difference in the cost of a glass in a bar due to the minimum, compared to the rest of the UK.

Meadowfinch · 25/05/2025 08:42

Yanbu. I've mostly given up alcohol for health reasons and the savings are huge.

StScholastica · 25/05/2025 08:42

WhoAreYouTalkingTo · 25/05/2025 08:41

I had a lime and soda the other day at a restaurant..... £4.20!!!

Also went to Toby Carvery on Wednesday and the drinks cost as much as the food!! Only had one dri k each (but did have a 25%off voucher)

Show quote history

As Nd as f they add a spring of mint, and call it a nohito, it's £7 🤣

Lzzyisgod · 25/05/2025 08:41

Mind you the price of cup of nice coffee is eye watering now too. I'd rather have a pint!

WhoAreYouTalkingTo · 25/05/2025 08:41

Springhassprungxx · 24/05/2025 22:25

I'm a lime and soda girl too! The cost of alcohol stops me enjoying it

Show quote history

I had a lime and soda the other day at a restaurant..... £4.20!!!

Also went to Toby Carvery on Wednesday and the drinks cost as much as the food!! Only had one dri k each (but did have a 25%off voucher)

StScholastica · 25/05/2025 08:40

Springhassprungxx · 24/05/2025 22:25

I'm a lime and soda girl too! The cost of alcohol stops me enjoying it

Show quote history

£4 in our local pub 🙄

youcannaecallherfanny · 25/05/2025 08:36

Try living in Scotland with our minimum 65p a unit pricing.

ThrowawayAccount29 · 25/05/2025 08:35

In our local, a pint of Thatchers and a medium rose spritzer was £13.15 the other day which I thought was quite expensive. Although, I keep meaning to ask what wine they use as it’s absolutely delicious. It almost tastes creamy which sounds weird but it’s lovely 😋 🍷

Lzzyisgod · 25/05/2025 08:34

I find soft drinks aren't actually that much cheaper than alcoholic ones these days.

My local has just had to put their prices up - covering staff wages, utilities etc - they have to make it a viable business. Trouble is my budget has remained the same so I end up either drinking less or going less and still spending the same amount of money.

Original poster
Lucytheluckyone · 25/05/2025 08:21

mindutopia · 24/05/2025 22:16

I stopped drinking 2 years ago and based on my average spending, I’ve saved £11,500 in that time. Which I’ve very responsibly spent buying horses. ☺️

That’s amazing! That’s so much money it just shows you doesn’t it. I’ve been quite tempted recently and find I’m ordering soft drinks over wine these days. I agree with other posts, when you can buy a bottle for the same price you feel totally ripped off!

OP posts:
Hfrfge · 24/05/2025 22:37

Just drink less

Snippit · 24/05/2025 22:33

Gettingbysomehow · 24/05/2025 22:10

I don't care. I'm teetotal.

Me too, have been for years due to health issues. My husband says I’m a cheap date to take out, and designated driver to boot 🤪

Allthegoodhorses · 24/05/2025 22:33

Gettingbysomehow · 24/05/2025 22:10

I don't care. I'm teetotal.

Why on earth did you bother with this thread then? 🥴😬 embarrassing or what

edwinbear · 24/05/2025 22:29

DH and I popped out for a drink last night for the first time in ages - probably a couple of years. It was £20 for a glass of wine and a pint of cider. It will be a couple of years before we do that again, it’s just not enjoyable at that price.

Springhassprungxx · 24/05/2025 22:25

PermanentTemporary · 24/05/2025 22:18

It's always a bit breathtaking. I definitely drink less as a result. So that's good, at my age. Makes the classic lime and soda even more of a bargain than it ever was.

I'm a lime and soda girl too! The cost of alcohol stops me enjoying it

PermanentTemporary · 24/05/2025 22:18

It's always a bit breathtaking. I definitely drink less as a result. So that's good, at my age. Makes the classic lime and soda even more of a bargain than it ever was.

Lardychops · 24/05/2025 22:16

XenoBitch · 24/05/2025 22:07

I remember having a bottle of Echo Falls wine in a restaurant (it was the only wine choice, but this was in Alton Towers). £18! And my DP tasted a bit first with the waiter stood there holding the bottle like it was some really posh vino. I think we were all embarrassed.

That’s so funny - ditto a similar experience with Isla Negra - ‘would madam like to taste the wine’
mortifying for all concerned.