Want to drink less this summer? Try swapping your pint for a cocktail

There’s nothing quite like the bond between Brits and a pub garden – sunshine and a cold pint have long gone hand in hand. But times are changing.

Nine out of 10 people in the UK say they are actively trying to moderate their alcohol consumption, according to polling from Drinkaware.

At the same time, premium spirits are on the rise in pubs and bars, with research from Vypr showing a jump in consumption from 31% in 2023 to 43% in 2024.

This is no coincidence, says the Scottish Whisky Association. They say drinkers are recognising that by choosing spirits, they have more control over their alcohol intake and have a better, more measured night out.

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“Drinks containing spirits - like a Scotch highball – often contain less alcohol and fewer calories than other go-to alcoholic drinks,” says Graeme Littlejohn, the SWA’s Director of Strategy.

“If you choose to drink alcohol, then a worldclass, innovative cocktail or long drink with a mixer could be a great option – and unit for unit adds more value to pubs, bars and restaurants.”

But for some people, drinking a pint comes down to the price.

Ivana Domozetska is a 20-year-old from Essex. She told LBC that cocktails are a “treat.”

“If I'm going to the pub with my friends I’ll get a pint because its cheaper. A cocktail is a rare occasion for when I’m doing something nice,” she said.

Higher levels of tax on spirits are to blame for the price difference and prevent more people from choosing spirits, according to Littlejohn.

Last January, duty on non-draught alcohol rose 3.6% in line with inflation as measured by the retail prices index (RPI).

Alcoholic drinks are also taxed according to their strength, with a higher rate paid for every extra 0.1% in strength above 1.2% alcohol by volume (ABV). This is intended to discourage the sale of cheap, high-strength drinks. But Littlejohn says the tax discourages people from trying to drink less.

“A pint of beer has nearly three times the calories and two-and-a-half times the alcohol of a single measure of Scotch Whisky, gin or vodka, but the UK’s higher level of tax on spirits is quashing a trend towards moderation and penalising those trying to drink less, and drink better”

In a statement, the Treasury said:

“The previous government introduced a set of reforms to the alcohol duty system to ensure that all alcoholic products pay duty based on their alcohol content rather than their volume. This approach is supported by public health experts including clinical advisors to the Department of Health and Social Care.”