HAVE you noticed a change in the cost of your favourite pint?

If so you are not alone, as local pubs struggle against unprecedented rises in the price of beer.

Dutch giant Heineken recently revealed that not only would prices rise, but it expected beer consumption across the world to fall.

If a company as big as that sneezes, it is guaranteed pubs across the globe will catch a cold.

Duty rates on beer have increased by 20% since March, 2008 – raising the national industry’s tax bill by £600m during one of the harshest ever recessions.

In Huddersfield many bars have seen an increase of 15p in the cost of a pint, taking the price to £2.75 and more.

It is the kind of increase that Honley Liberal Club has tried to avoid.

As it has members, the club is attempting to buck the trend and offers Skipton Brewery beer at £2.10 and cask ale from Sam Smith’s at £1.75.

Pamela Bradley, stewardess at the Holmfirth club, said: “Naturally as a members’ club we look to be competitive and Sam Smith’s is a cheaper brewery.

“Across the country all the beers are going up, but ours haven’t yet.

“We are trying to do our best for the members and we would like to be cheaper, but the costs are high.

“The cost of beer is going up at silly prices. I can’t understand when pubs and clubs are in so much trouble why they would go up at such a rate.

“I know people can get so many cans for only £10 at a supermarket, but meanwhile the breweries are putting £20 on a barrel for pubs.”

For normal license holders, the battle is on to make a profit while not driving custom away.

A spokeswoman for Enterprise Inns said: “Licensees choose what prices to sell at, taking account of their local market opportunity and competition, but clearly they continue to face a wide array of influences on their businesses.

“These include the burden of government regulation, excessive increases in duty on beer, competition from supermarkets and the impact of the economic recession – but we continue to provide financial and non-financial support to Enterprise licensees who are struggling despite their best efforts.”

As more and more drinkers opt to stay indoors and take advantage of drinks like wine that may be cheaper but have higher alcohol content, industry leaders are urging the Chancellor to adopt a tax policy to boost beer as a low alcohol British drink.

The British Beer And Pub Association says the move would help support British pubs and brewing with 400,000 UK jobs depending directly on the production and sale of beer.

Lee Le Clercq, regional secretary of the British Beer And Pub Association, said: “It’s time for the Chancellor to recognise the social, community and economic value of a low strength drink like beer and social drinking in pubs.

“Pubs are at the heart of our community and make a significant contribution to our economy.

“Beer is an iconic British drink, yet the impact of blunt duty increases has further hit our ability to generate economic activity to help pull Britain out of recession.

“By treating beer differently in duty rates we can support a home grown industry and safeguard thousands of jobs.

“It is time to give beer a break and show that the Government is serious about backing the British pub.”