Pint vs Non-Alcoholic Pint pricewise

Zarkandar

Was in a Dublin looking at a price list and saw that while a pint of Guinness cost €6, the price of a pint of Guinness 0.0 was €5.50. which seemed ridiculous considering there's no excise tax on the G0.0. In this case, would the pub be making bigger profit on the non-alcoholic pint?

Geuze

Beer excise duty is approx 50c - 55c per pint.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119543239#Comment_119543239

Plus VAT on that element

NA beer has a relatively costly production process also.

Sam Russell

Not sure about the zero excise. I thought excise was based on the pre-fermentation sugar levels. They ferment, then remove the alcohol, but cannot remove the excise.

Now I may be completely wrong, but that was the way I understood it long ago. Long ago, it was the explanation why non-alcohol lager cost as much as the real stuff.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119631728#Comment_119631728

Excise is not and never has been based on pre-fermentation sugar levels. That isn't even a reliable indicator of final ABV - not all sugars are consumed by the yeast.

It is on the final product, and anything below 1.2% is zero (its 0.5% in some EU countries, but 1.2% here - so we actually have a 0.5%-1.2% band, but set to 0.00)

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261050/pint-vs-non-alcoholic-pint-pricewise

I might be missing something. But €5.50 is less than €6.00

lau1247

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119676501#Comment_119676501

Yes but probably in OP's mind is that the non alcoholic ones should have a slightly bigger gap (cheaper) taking into consideration that there is no alcohol.

rubadub

Non alcoholic drinks traditionally typically had had a much higher margin than alcoholic ones in pubs. Few people would take up a seat in a pub and drink 10 pints worth of coke over the course of a night. I remember working it out before and a pint of coke was about twice the price of beer, some lemonades are even worse as the bottle can be tiny so takes a few to make up 568ml (with no ice). If a publican wants to make the same profit per person per night then they may have to increase the price of a pint of non alcoholic guinness to more than a regular one. This would obviously raise eyebrows and appear unfair.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783243#Comment_119783243

Why would the fact it is no alcohol affect the price? The difference in excise is about 50c. So it comes purely comes down to the cost of the product. And seeing as the production is essential the same (or more involved), transport is the same, labour, in the same, margin the same, etc. I can't see why it would be cheaper.