AS the World Cup returns this summer, Brits will be sinking millions of pints in pubs and in their homes across the country.
But with the average price of a pint now at over £5, and fears that booze could get more expensive because of the Middle East conflict, enjoying some beers in the sunshine can easily burn a hole in your pocket.
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Experts have analysed if an at-home beer tap is worth buying this summer to save you money on pints Credit: Unknown
At-home beer taps supposedly offer a cheaper alternative than going to the pub, with some manufacturers promising cold pints for under £2 a pop.
Experts have analysed if splashing out on one of these DIY devices could save you money this summer instead of going to the pub… and the results may surprise you.
Consumer champions Which? looked at how many pints you’d need to down in order to make your money back on the gadgets.
This is based on the average price of a pint, which is currently £5.23 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
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Which?’s research found that, for some of the most popular at-home beer taps, you would need to drink up to almost 100 pints in the pub for them to be worth buying.
For example, the Beerwulf BLADE, a popular model that costs from £507, can save you £2.38 per beer compared to the average pint in the pub.
But Which? calculated that you’d need to drink 97 pints before you start making your money back.
Meanwhile, if you bought the Philips PerfectDraft Black, which can be found on Amazon from £176.40, you would need to drink 38 pints for it to be worth it.
However, you’d only save £1.51 per pint with this machine vs going to the pub.
The experts found that the device that can save you the most money is the Guinness Nitrosurge – although you’ll be limited to only drinking pints of the black stuff.
You can buy the device, which clips onto cans of Guinness Nitrosurge to recreate the famous two-part pour, from UK retailers including Tesco, Asda and Amazon.
You would only have to drink seven to eight pints of Guinness to make your money back, and you’d save over £3 vs going to the pub.
However, if you really want to save money on beer this summer, experts say your best bet is to head to the supermarket.
Which? drinks expert Lars Stannard said: “If you’re going to be hosting lots of people in the garden this summer or want to bring a slice of the pub home with you, these machines could be worth adding to your home bar.
“Even then, they won’t save you as much money as buying cans of beer from the supermarket.”
The research comes amid warnings of beer shortages and price hikes in the UK this summer ahead of July’s World Cup.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) warned last week that Brits could be paying £9 for pints in London before the end of the year as pubs face more cost pressures due to the Iran war.
Breweries could also be hit with shortages if Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, as it could cut supplies of vital carbon dioxide, which is used to make drinks fizzy.
