Brigid Simmonds, the chief executive of the BBPA, said: “These figures will confound many pundits, as yet again they confirm that as a nation, we are not drinking more. Those who suggest otherwise need to focus on the hard facts." The trade body said that above-inflation duty rises, pushing up the average pint of lager to £2.95, meant that many people could no longer afford to regularly visit the pub and was one of the key reasons why people were drinking less.