Pubs have to raise the price of beer or risk going out of business, according to a news report.
The price of a pint of beer is set to go up by 50p, adding to the soaring costs for food and energy for households, as the hospitality industry battles inflation, supply chain problems and labour shortages, the Sun newspaper reported.
This means that patrons may have to pay over £7 for a pint in some London pubs, the paper said.
The average cost of a pint in the UK is £4.07, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, with Londoners paying £4.84 on average.
UKHospitality said pubs were facing “unprecedented” price rises.
“This is weighing very heavily on these businesses, which have had nothing but a torrid time, and the price of a pint and a meal out will have to rise,” said UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls.
James Calder, chief executive of Society of Independent Brewers, said: “We have seen huge spikes in people costs, transport, raw ingredients and energy.
"With most brewers running very tight ships already, our sector unfortunately needs to be able to pass on these price rises to customers including the pubs in between.
"Otherwise they will go bust. No business likes to raise its prices but right now it is a necessity to survive."
Earlier this week, the chairman of the City Pub Company Clive Watson said 'pub inflation' was running at about 10%.
Industry experts have urged the government to scrap the 12.5% VAT rate on pubs, restaurants and hotels and not go ahead with the scheduled rise back up to 20%, which is planned for April, to ease pressure on the industry.