Drinkers of some of Britain’s best-known lager and ale brands may be paying the same, or more, for a weaker pint than they did a few years ago, as major brewers take advantage of lower alcohol duty bands introduced in 2023.

The shift has become increasingly visible across supermarket shelves and bar taps. Heineken UK, which brews Foster’s, John Smith’s, Sol and Amstel, has cut the strength of several of its brands to 3.4% ABV since 2024. Foster’s has been among the most notable changes, moving down from 4.0% to 3.7% in 2023 before being reduced again this year. Amstel’s lower strength applies to take-home packs, while its draught version has stayed unchanged.

The wider pattern extends beyond Heineken. Carlsberg Pilsner has been lowered from 3.8% to 3.4%, Coors has fallen from 4.0% to 3.4% in 2025, and Grolsch was reduced to 3.4% last year after previously being stronger. According to government alcohol duty guidance, the 3.4% threshold matters because beer at or below that level attracts a lower rate of duty than stronger products, while draught beer also benefits from lighter taxation than cans and bottles.

That is where the controversy begins. Campaigners from the Campaign for Real Ale say global brewers are using the duty system to cut costs without sharing the benefit with consumers. Tim Webb, chair of CAMRA’s Beer and Cider Campaigns Committee, said in comments reported by the Manchester Evening News that large brewers had diluted recipes to reach the lower tax band while keeping prices unchanged, something he argued smaller independents could not easily do without damaging quality. He also urged ministers to use the government’s Access to Market Review to give smaller brewers fairer access to pubs.

Heineken UK says the changes reflect shifting consumer tastes as much as taxation. In a statement quoted by the Manchester Evening News, the company said it regularly reviews its beers to match demand for moderation and to offer a wider range of strengths, adding that the lower ABV supports its responsibility agenda and could allow for more competitive pricing where possible. The company’s position is that the changes are intended to balance consumer preference, tax policy and inflationary pressure.

Not all customers appear convinced. Reviews cited on Tesco’s website for Amstel’s lower-strength cans complained that the beer no longer tasted as good as before, with some buyers saying it had become thin and lacking in body. The criticism captures the central complaint from drinkers: that while the tax bill may be lower for brewers, the retail price has not necessarily followed.