Brewers are weakening beers sold in UK but selling boozier versions in Europe, a Sun on Sunday investigation reveals

BREWERS are weakening beers sold in Britain but selling boozier versions in Europe, a Sun on Sunday investigation reveals.

Campaigners partly blame the UK’s higher alcohol duty.

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Brewers are weakening beers sold in Britain but selling boozier versions in EU countries[/caption]

Carlsberg has an ABV of five per cent in Spanish supermarkets, compared to just 3.8 in the UK, but costs an extra 5p a litre here.

A 12-pack of 330ml bottles of Leffe Blonde is 6.6 per cent and £11.42 in France but six per cent and £15 in Asda in Britain.

The trend can also be seen across a range of other popular brands.

One reviewer wrote of Leffe Blonde’s new lower strength on the Tesco website: “It has become an ordinary beer. Very disappointed.”

The British Beer and Pub Association said it was partly because of the Government’s punishing alcohol duty — now three times higher than the EU average.

But market experts reckon it is also because Brits increasingly prefer weaker drinks for health and social reasons.

Colin Angus, of Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, called it “exactly the purpose of the government’s duty reforms”.