I dropped into a pub in central London and ordered two pints of draught beer. Obviously the price of everything is nuts these days - and doubly so in London - so I only winced a little bit when the cost came to about twelve quid. Shocking, obviously. But as we supped on our pints and discussed the state of the world, I tried to remember how expensive it was to have a pint when I was a lad young…

Terence Eden

A personal exploration of whether beer has become more or less affordable over time in the UK. By comparing historical ONS draught lager price data against minimum wage history, the author finds that the cost of a pint relative to minimum wage has remained remarkably consistent at 27–40 minutes of work, and is actually at its cheapest ratio ever. The post cautions that averages obscure nuances like student loan repayments and disposable income differences.

How many hours do you need to work to afford a pint of beer?