UK brewery increases alcohol level of popular beer after customers complain
Marble Beer has increased the alcohol level on its flagship pale ale following complaints from customers.
The Manchester-based brewery had slashed the alcohol by volume (ABV) from 3.9% to 3.4% after new tax rules were introduced for alcohol products. However, Marble has now confirmed it has U-turned on this decision, with the beer going back up to 3.9%. The beer is available in cask and keg formats and also in cans.
In the UK, drinks are now taxed based on their strength, rather than the previous categories of wine, beer, spirits, and ciders. This system came into effect in August 2023. Alcoholic drinks with an ABV below 3.5% are taxed at a lower rate.
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Marble Beer sales director, Paul Plowman told Beer Today: “On the back of the change to duty relief made by the government, Marble made the decision to drop the ABV of Pint from 3.9% to 3.4%. The intention was to give us some breathing space when it came to our duty bill.
“While we were happy with the 3.4% version, it became apparent many of our loyal customers were not. Although we never compromised on quality, sometimes things just shouldn’t be messed with. As a result, we’ve gone back to the original 3.9% recipe, which hopefully will return Pint to one of the most loved and respected pints in the country!”
Marble is not the only brewery to lower the alcohol content of some of its products this year. Grolsch Premium Pilsner had a higher ABV of 5% up until its relaunch in 2020 when it was slashed to 4% by parent firm Asahi. It has now been slashed again to 3.4%.
Dark Star Hophead, which is also owned by Asahi, was lowered from 3.8% to 3.4% ABV in the summer, while other drinks that have been affected include Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, John Smith’s Extra Smooth and Bud Light. Under the new alcohol tax system, spirits and wines are taxed much heavier than ciders and beer, due to their stronger content.
Drinks with an ABV of more than 8.5% are all taxed at the same rate, whether they are wines, spirits or beer. A further change will be introduced in February 2025, where wine will be taxed by alcohol content. For wines at 11.5% ABV the duty will reduce to £2.54 a bottle, while the duty will increase to £2.88 a bottle for 13% ABV and £3.21 a bottle for 14.5% ABV.
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