Sol 4.3 > 3.4%

[LeeH]

It’s piss already.

Heineken to cut alcohol strength in one of its popular beers​

Dutch brewer Heineken will be lowering the amount of alcohol in its Sol lager from tomorrow.

The strength of the drink will be reduced from 4.2% ABV to 3.4%.

Although the lower alcohol version will go into production tomorrow, it won't appear at the bar or in supermarkets immediately.

The change could mean that drinkers pay slightly less for Sol lager as Heineken will drop the wholesale price.

Beer brands have been lowering the strength of some of their drinks because of soaring alcohol duty costs.

That's due to a change the government made in 2023 which allowed a lower duty band for products with an ABV between 1.3% and 3.4%.

Other beers such as Stella Artois, Foster's, Carlsberg, Spitfire, Old Speckled Hen and Bishops Finger have also all been reduced in strength to cut costs.

https://news.sky.com/story/major-brewery-to-cut-alcohol-strength-in-popular-beer-money-13040934

 

[obscure]

And of course

Heineken said in statement that the abv reduction on Sol was motivated by consumer moderation trends.

It said: “We know consumers are increasingly choosing lower ABV products as part of a balanced lifestyle.

“In line with this trend, we continue to evaluate the ABV of all our products, and as such, we will be reducing the abv of Sol, from 4.2% to 3.4%.

“Our master brewers have taken great care to make sure that consumers will notice no change, and we have spent many months perfecting the beer and testing it with drinkers.

Maybe I’m just getting old and bitter but I’m pretty certain most people who drink beer like Sol or Carling (another one who cut their ABV recently) do so with the aim of getting as drunk as cheaply as possible.

 

[Rwilts]

Couple of thoughts .

1. I can see some justification for reducing the ABV if it's directly related to the cost to consumer.

2. I don't drink it so it won't effect me.

3. Most consumers are not on top of ABV as we are and may not be aware (untill they have less hangovers)

4. How will this effect the taste ? ABV does have an impact on user experience and taste in my opinion.

 

[jof]

Well it's due to accountants isn't it.
Those at HMRC that changed the way beer duty is calculated & those at the brewery who are maximising the profit at the expense of taste & tax payable

 

[Chippy_Tea]

How will this effect the taste ? ABV does have an impact on user experience and taste in my opinion.

I drink Old Speckled Hen and Bishops Finger fairly regularly and i haven't noticed a change in flavour, i never drink Stella Artois, Foster's, Carlsberg as they have always tasted awful.