Popular lager slashes its alcohol strength in the UK to save money

The beer is available at 5% ABV in Europe

We're all encouraged to be more conscious about what we're eating and drinking, particularly when it comes to alcohol.

With booze, it can be pretty useful to know just how strong what you're drinking is, or else you might find you've failed to pace yourself on a night out and are more drunk than you'd like to be.

Well, if you're after a weaker beer that you can drink a few pints of without a banging headache the next day, this might be good news for you.

Grolsch Premium Pilsner will be cutting its alcohol strength in the UK. The Dutch tipple previously had a 4% ABV in the UK, which was already lower than the 5% you'd find if you bought the same beer in Europe.

The lower 4% ABV was introduced in 2020, but now Asahi UK, the beer's owner, has confirmed the alcohol strength of the beer has been reduced again for British drinkers.

According to The Grocer, Grolsch's alcohol strength has been changed to 3.4%, with this weaker beer already on the market in the UK

An Asahi spokesperson told the publication: "Following much analysis, we decided to reformulate Grolsch to a new ABV of 3.4%, which went into market earlier this year.

"We are confident this still delivers an excellent premium beer that will appeal to a broad range of consumers."

The Grocer reports that the decision to weaken Grolsch's strength will save Asahi UK about 23p in excise duty for every 440ml can of Grolsch sold. This comes after sales of the lager had been falling.

The news has left some beer-lovers furious, with some saying there's "no point drinking" the lager.

One person wrote: "Another once decent beer, ruined by the accountants and the tax man. I used to be quite partial to the old 5.0% Grolsch on draught a few years back. Just who exactly are these 3.4% beers aimed at?"

Another said: "Grolsch Premium Pilsner is reducing the strength of lager to 3.4% ABV from 4.0%. 4% isn't premium and 3.4% is a f***ing shandy!"

A third commented: "At 3.4 there's no point drinking it!"

Someone else wrote: "@Grolsch_UK just thought I’d let you know that 3.4% is not a premium pilsner is anyone’s book but yours.

"I hope there will be a price drop correlated with the drop in strength?"