The cost of drinking will increase from Sunday after the Chancellor put up the rate of alcohol duty by six per cent above inflation.

A pint of beer will cost 4p more, a litre of cider 3p while the cost of a bottle of wine will jump 14p and a bottle of spirits 55p a bottle.

And the cost of drink is set to continue to rise over the next four years as the Chancellor said duty rates would increase by 2 per above inflation in each of the next four years.

The Chancellor defended his decision to increase the alcohol duty by saying that drink had become more affordable over the last ten years. He said in 1997 a bottle of wine cost £4.45 at today's prices, compared with £4 now.

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The British Beer and Pub Association accused the Government of punishing beer drinkers rather than tackling the minority of drunken hooligans.

Rob Hayward, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "By aiming a tax hike at beer, the Chancellor is shooting himself in the foot. Treasury revenues will continue to fall, pubs will continue to close and beer sales will drop further."

He added that the Government's tax policy was driving people away from beer, out of the public house and into the arms of supermarkets who discount alcohol sales.

Today's increase in alcohol duty comes ahead of an official report due to be published in the summer investigating the link between price and alcohol consumption.

Mr Darling has acted to increase alcohol duties amidst growing concern at the extent of binge drinking in the country and the damage being caused to health by excessive drinking.

Last week the Government published its review of the operation of 24 hour licensing which concluded that the picture was mixed. The worst consequences feared by critics had not occurred but neither had there been the improvement in drinking behaviour and habits as hoped for by the Government when introducing the legislation.

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