August alcohol prices fall

The price of alcohol in off-licences increased 0.2 per cent in August compared to July 2011 with increases in Spirits of 2.6 per cent and Beer 1.3 per cent.

Price decreases were recorded for Wine & Cider of 1.4 per cent.

Over the year, off-trade prices for alcohol fell 2.5 per cent. They fell 3.2 per cent  for Spirits, 2.7 per cent for Wine & Cider and 1.4 per cent for Beer.

In the on-trade, price decreases were recorded for Wine & Cider and for Soft Drinks & Mineral Waters of 0.1 per cent in August compared to July. Over the year, Beer prices fell 0.5 per cent, Spirits prices 0.3 per cent, Wine & Cider prices by 1.0 per cent while Soft Drinks & Mineral Waters fell by 0.6 per cent.

Overall, alcohol prices were up 0.1 per cent on July but down over the three month period by 0.4 per cent and by 0.1 per cent over the year.