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17-11-2012, 08:52
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This is brilliant. I've managed to combine three of my favourite obsessions: Scotland, WW I and British Lager. I think I'll have to go and lie down for a while, I'm so excited.
Below are a series of reports about the price increases agreed by publicans in response to the increased beer duty in the Finance Bill, introduced in November 1917. It increased beer tax from 7s 9d per standard barrel (36 imperial gallons of beer with an OG of 1055) to 17s 3d. The figure for the new duty wasn't random. The intention was to increase the price of a pint by 1d. Unlike later war measures concerning beer, the intention wasn't to reduce consumption but to raise more money.
The figures given below confuse. Especially given the lower average gravity of beer in Scotland on the eve of the war. You can see all the details in this table:
Beer output and average OG by UK country 1913 - 1920
England
Scotland
Ireland
United Kingdom
Year
bulk barrels
average OG
bulk barrels
average OG
bulk barrels
average OG
bulk barrels
average OG
1913
30,758,800
1051.52
2,119,666
1047.85
3,417,851
1065.73
36,296,317
1052.64
1914
31,737,384
1051.69
2,288,481
1047.67
3,532,902
1065.93
37,558,767
1052.80
1915
29,310,783
1051.16
2,042,477
1046.85
3,412,520
1065.93
34,765,780
1052.35
1916
26,914,428
1050.49
1,917,148
1046.45
3,279,032
1066.43
32,110,608
1051.88
1917
25,497,825
1047.01
1,816,003
1043.16
2,850,170
1065.69
30,163,998
1048.54
1918
16,340,250
1038.25
1,141,114
1036.74
1,603,679
1057.89
19,085,043
1039.81
1919
20,133,048
1029.35
1,325,439
1029.77
1,806,046
1044.43
23,264,533
1030.55
1920
29,891,845
1038.57
2,186,604
1038.83
2,969,498
1043.35
35,047,947
1039.41
Source:
Brewers' Journal 1921, page 246.
Average gravity in Scotland was four points lower than in England. I'd love to know the reason why. It makes something I noticed about the prices quoted particularly odd: a pint was dearer in Scotland than in London. Below the price of a pint of draught beer before the tax increase is given as 3d. In London a pint of Mild was 2d a pint before the increase. I'm confused.
I can only think of one explanation: the standard draught beer in Scotland wasn't Mild. But if that's true, why was the average gravity lower?
Here are the articles about price increases:
"THE CUPAR "TRADE" FIX BEER PRICES.
At a meeting of the licensed traders in the Cupar district held yesterday in the Station Hotel, Cupar, the retail beer and stout prices were fixed follows: —Schooners, 2.5d; draught pints, 4d; bottled beer or stout supplied off the premises, 3s per doz.; bottled beer stout consumed on the premises, 4d per pint; table beer, 2.5d per bottle or 2s 3d per doz,; three guinea ale, 2s 9d per dozen."
Dundee Courier - Friday 20 November 1914, page 4.
What size was a schooner? Somewhere between a half pint and a pint, obviously. As a draught beer measure, I've only come across it in Australia. Table beer is something that doesn't turn up in English price-fixing agreements because it didn't exist any more south of the border.
"PRICE OF BEER DUNDEE WILL BE INCREASED MONDAY.
The price of beer will be increased in Dundee on Monday. A meeting of the members of the Dundee Wine, Spirit, and Beer Trade Protection Association was held yesterday to adjust the prices view of the increased duty on beer. Mr Alfred Neave presided over a large attendance. The prices were fixed as follows: — Glass, 2d, increase 0.5d; schooner, 3d, increase 1d; pint, 4d, increase 1d; pint-bottled beers, 4d, increase 1d; and small bottled ales, 3d, increase 1d. The practice of giving small quantities of beer gratuitously with spirits was condemned, and it was decided that steps should be taken to stop the system."
Dundee Courier - Saturday 21 November 1914, page 6.
Note that a schooner, whatever its size, was a halfpenny dearer in Dundee than in Cupar. Giving away free beer with spirits seems very civilised. Why would they stop it? I'm surprised that bottled beer cost the same as draught. Logic would demand it be more expensive.
"DEARER BEER AT PERTH.
Perth and District Licensed Trade Defence. Association have fixed the prices o£ beer follows: — Glass, 2d —increase of 0.5d; "schooner," 3d, and pint, 4d — increase of 1d: bottled beer, 4d for consumption on, premises, and 3.5d carrying away — increase, of 1d.
The increases come into operation on Monday."
Dundee Courier - Saturday 21 November 1914, page 6.So carry-out bottled beer was cheaper. Cheaper even than draught beer. It's the world turned upside down.
"ARBROATH LICENSE-HOLDERS AND "OFF" PRICES OF BEERS.
At a largely-attended meeting of Arbroath license-holders held in the Masonic Hall, Hill Street, yesterday —Mr D. Darroch presiding— the following "off" prices were fixed in regard to beers: —Draught beer, 4d per pint; table beer, 3s per dozen; Burton ales and lager beers, 3s 6d per dozen; small lagers, 2s 9d per dozen; No. 1 Bass, 4s 6d per dozen; London stouts — No. 3 3s 6d and imperial 4s per dozen; Whitbread's large 3s 6d and small 2s 6d per dozen; Ballingall's imperial pints 3s, small 2s 6d, and Ballingall's double stout 3s per dozen. Increased prices to take effect immediately.
A committee of grocers and publicans was appointed to investigate cases of underselling, and to take whatever steps might be considered necessary to have the practice discontinued."
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 25 November 1914, page 2.I particularly like this one because it lists specific brands and types of beer. Bass No. 1, of course, is the original Barley Wine. At 4.5d a pop, that's probably a nip bottle. There's a beer that wouldn't be around by the end of the war. Way too strong.
It's interesting that of all the brewers named, only one is Scottish: Ballingall of Dundee. And that so many Stouts get a mention. What was No. 3 Stout? I've not seen numbered Stouts except at Bass. Assuming the bottle was a half pint, it must have been quite strong.
I'm please to see Lager making an appearance. At 3.5d a pint it seems too cheap. Unless that's a half pint bottle and the small bottle is a nip. That would make more sense. Otherwise a pint of bottled Lager would have been cheaper than a pint of draught beer.
Such price-fixing by a trade organisation would be highly illegal today.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5445569787371915337-3916569969447400535?l=barclayperkins.blogspot.com
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-price-of-beer-in-scotland.html)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1exUfas1EpE/UJudczASg6I/AAAAAAAAMe4/SHC8O8Qrn3E/s320/Ballingall_Angus_Imperial_Ale.JPG (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1exUfas1EpE/UJudczASg6I/AAAAAAAAMe4/SHC8O8Qrn3E/s1600/Ballingall_Angus_Imperial_Ale.JPG)
This is brilliant. I've managed to combine three of my favourite obsessions: Scotland, WW I and British Lager. I think I'll have to go and lie down for a while, I'm so excited.
Below are a series of reports about the price increases agreed by publicans in response to the increased beer duty in the Finance Bill, introduced in November 1917. It increased beer tax from 7s 9d per standard barrel (36 imperial gallons of beer with an OG of 1055) to 17s 3d. The figure for the new duty wasn't random. The intention was to increase the price of a pint by 1d. Unlike later war measures concerning beer, the intention wasn't to reduce consumption but to raise more money.
The figures given below confuse. Especially given the lower average gravity of beer in Scotland on the eve of the war. You can see all the details in this table:
Beer output and average OG by UK country 1913 - 1920
England
Scotland
Ireland
United Kingdom
Year
bulk barrels
average OG
bulk barrels
average OG
bulk barrels
average OG
bulk barrels
average OG
1913
30,758,800
1051.52
2,119,666
1047.85
3,417,851
1065.73
36,296,317
1052.64
1914
31,737,384
1051.69
2,288,481
1047.67
3,532,902
1065.93
37,558,767
1052.80
1915
29,310,783
1051.16
2,042,477
1046.85
3,412,520
1065.93
34,765,780
1052.35
1916
26,914,428
1050.49
1,917,148
1046.45
3,279,032
1066.43
32,110,608
1051.88
1917
25,497,825
1047.01
1,816,003
1043.16
2,850,170
1065.69
30,163,998
1048.54
1918
16,340,250
1038.25
1,141,114
1036.74
1,603,679
1057.89
19,085,043
1039.81
1919
20,133,048
1029.35
1,325,439
1029.77
1,806,046
1044.43
23,264,533
1030.55
1920
29,891,845
1038.57
2,186,604
1038.83
2,969,498
1043.35
35,047,947
1039.41
Source:
Brewers' Journal 1921, page 246.
Average gravity in Scotland was four points lower than in England. I'd love to know the reason why. It makes something I noticed about the prices quoted particularly odd: a pint was dearer in Scotland than in London. Below the price of a pint of draught beer before the tax increase is given as 3d. In London a pint of Mild was 2d a pint before the increase. I'm confused.
I can only think of one explanation: the standard draught beer in Scotland wasn't Mild. But if that's true, why was the average gravity lower?
Here are the articles about price increases:
"THE CUPAR "TRADE" FIX BEER PRICES.
At a meeting of the licensed traders in the Cupar district held yesterday in the Station Hotel, Cupar, the retail beer and stout prices were fixed follows: —Schooners, 2.5d; draught pints, 4d; bottled beer or stout supplied off the premises, 3s per doz.; bottled beer stout consumed on the premises, 4d per pint; table beer, 2.5d per bottle or 2s 3d per doz,; three guinea ale, 2s 9d per dozen."
Dundee Courier - Friday 20 November 1914, page 4.
What size was a schooner? Somewhere between a half pint and a pint, obviously. As a draught beer measure, I've only come across it in Australia. Table beer is something that doesn't turn up in English price-fixing agreements because it didn't exist any more south of the border.
"PRICE OF BEER DUNDEE WILL BE INCREASED MONDAY.
The price of beer will be increased in Dundee on Monday. A meeting of the members of the Dundee Wine, Spirit, and Beer Trade Protection Association was held yesterday to adjust the prices view of the increased duty on beer. Mr Alfred Neave presided over a large attendance. The prices were fixed as follows: — Glass, 2d, increase 0.5d; schooner, 3d, increase 1d; pint, 4d, increase 1d; pint-bottled beers, 4d, increase 1d; and small bottled ales, 3d, increase 1d. The practice of giving small quantities of beer gratuitously with spirits was condemned, and it was decided that steps should be taken to stop the system."
Dundee Courier - Saturday 21 November 1914, page 6.
Note that a schooner, whatever its size, was a halfpenny dearer in Dundee than in Cupar. Giving away free beer with spirits seems very civilised. Why would they stop it? I'm surprised that bottled beer cost the same as draught. Logic would demand it be more expensive.
"DEARER BEER AT PERTH.
Perth and District Licensed Trade Defence. Association have fixed the prices o£ beer follows: — Glass, 2d —increase of 0.5d; "schooner," 3d, and pint, 4d — increase of 1d: bottled beer, 4d for consumption on, premises, and 3.5d carrying away — increase, of 1d.
The increases come into operation on Monday."
Dundee Courier - Saturday 21 November 1914, page 6.So carry-out bottled beer was cheaper. Cheaper even than draught beer. It's the world turned upside down.
"ARBROATH LICENSE-HOLDERS AND "OFF" PRICES OF BEERS.
At a largely-attended meeting of Arbroath license-holders held in the Masonic Hall, Hill Street, yesterday —Mr D. Darroch presiding— the following "off" prices were fixed in regard to beers: —Draught beer, 4d per pint; table beer, 3s per dozen; Burton ales and lager beers, 3s 6d per dozen; small lagers, 2s 9d per dozen; No. 1 Bass, 4s 6d per dozen; London stouts — No. 3 3s 6d and imperial 4s per dozen; Whitbread's large 3s 6d and small 2s 6d per dozen; Ballingall's imperial pints 3s, small 2s 6d, and Ballingall's double stout 3s per dozen. Increased prices to take effect immediately.
A committee of grocers and publicans was appointed to investigate cases of underselling, and to take whatever steps might be considered necessary to have the practice discontinued."
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 25 November 1914, page 2.I particularly like this one because it lists specific brands and types of beer. Bass No. 1, of course, is the original Barley Wine. At 4.5d a pop, that's probably a nip bottle. There's a beer that wouldn't be around by the end of the war. Way too strong.
It's interesting that of all the brewers named, only one is Scottish: Ballingall of Dundee. And that so many Stouts get a mention. What was No. 3 Stout? I've not seen numbered Stouts except at Bass. Assuming the bottle was a half pint, it must have been quite strong.
I'm please to see Lager making an appearance. At 3.5d a pint it seems too cheap. Unless that's a half pint bottle and the small bottle is a nip. That would make more sense. Otherwise a pint of bottled Lager would have been cheaper than a pint of draught beer.
Such price-fixing by a trade organisation would be highly illegal today.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5445569787371915337-3916569969447400535?l=barclayperkins.blogspot.com
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-price-of-beer-in-scotland.html)