Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin keeps stocking stronger 3.8% Carlsberg
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin is still stocking the stronger 3.8% Carlsberg in his pubs after hitting out at brewers for watering down beers.
The popular pub chain’s founder and chairman had previously said he may consider stopping the sales of brewers that weakened their beers.
However, Wetherspoon pubs are still selling Carlsberg’s Danish Pilsner at 3.8%, the Telegraph revealed.
It comes after the Copenhagen-based brewer said last year that the alcohol content would be reduced to 3.4% because of tax changes.
A spokesperson for Wetherspoon told the Telegraph that the brewery was supplying it with the 3.8% beer ‘for the time being’.
While a Carlsberg spokesperson said it ‘fully expected’ that it is going to only brew the 3.4% option eventually in the future.
Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, pictured in London earlier this year
Wetherspoon pubs are still selling Carlsberg’s Danish Pilsner at 3.8%, according to the Telegraph, despite the Copenhagen-based brewer saying last year that the alcohol content would be reduced to 3.4% because of tax changes
The cut allows the brewer to take advantage of a new lower tax for weaker drinks when alcohol duty rates changed in August last year.
A spokesman for the Carlsberg previously said: ‘In line with the Government’s Alcohol Duty Reforms, and as policy makers intended, reducing the ABV of Carlsberg Danish Pilsner enables us to invest in innovation and in our portfolio of much-loved lagers and ales – while supporting public health by removing 56million units of alcohol from the UK market annually.’
Other lager and ale brands, like Foster’s, Bishops Finger, Old Speckled Hen and Spitfire also weakened their drinks.
The change meant beers 3.4% or less in strength pay £9.27 per litre of alcohol in the product, compared to £21.01 for beers between 3.5 per cent and 8.5 per cent.
The revelation that Wetherspoon is still stocking the stronger Carlsberg comes after it recently revealed that Guinness was behind a huge increase in sales.
Recently surging in popularity, the stout has become a common choice for younger punters and the recovering demand for ale helped the UK pub chain to higher sales over past three months.
The company’s founder and chairman Tim Martin remarked: ‘The gods of fashion have smiled upon Guinness, previously consumed by blokes my age, but now widely adopted by younger generations.’
A Carlsberg spokesperson said to the Telegraph it ‘fully expected’ that it is going to only brew the 3.4% option eventually in the future
The revelation that Wetherspoon is still stocking the stronger Carlsberg comes after it recently revealed that Guinness was behind a huge increase in sales
It comes as Wetherspoon has also seen boost in sales of Lavazza coffee in their pubs – which are particularly popular with retirees.
Tim Martin said: ‘Sales of Lavazza coffee are increasing.’
He joked: ‘Free refills are thought to be responsible for spontaneous exhibitions of breakdancing among retired customers.’
JD Wetherspoon pubs across the country sell unlimited Lavazza coffees for between £1 and £2 – depending on the location – while customers can also get their hands on Flat Whites, Cappuccinos and Lattes for the same price.
The pub chain has also recently axed 18 drinks from its menu as part of a major revamp ahead of the summer season.
A selection of spirits have been dropped from the chain’s latest menu update in May, such as Lambs Navy Rum, Bombay Bramble and Gordon’s Sicilian Lemon.
Duppy Share White, Chase pink grapefruit pomelo gin and Buffalo Trace have also all been shelved for now.
It comes as Wetherspoon has also seen boost in sales of Lavazza coffee in their pubs – which are particularly popular with retirees
The cocktail menu has also been altered, with Tanqueray Spritz, Bubblegin, Bubblegin syrup, as well as Smirnoff and Monster pitchers all bowing out.
Tropical Raspberry and Tropical Guava Corona seltzers have also been removed.
Manquila shooters, along with four other craft drinks – Williams Bros Tin Man, Inniss & Gunn Mangoes on the Run, Backyard 3 States and Rooster’s Baby Faced Assassin – will no longer be available to customers.
MailOnline has contacted Carlsberg and Wetherspoon for comment.
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