oh no, its happened :(

cainer · 7 Mar 2012 at 22:34

bought 2 packs of 18x440ml of stella from sainsburys yesterday and ive just noticed...

4.8%

J-FRO · 7 Mar 2012 at 22:37

Does this mean we will now only have wife verbal abusers?

DcD · 7 Mar 2012 at 23:07

Did you buy Stella 4? Also, I think I heard somewhere pints of stella are stronger than cans/bottles because it loses 0.2% alcohol in the canning/bottling process (or something like that). Not sure how reliable that information actually is though.

Jimbeam3678 · 7 Mar 2012 at 23:18

Nope stella going down to 4.8 to avoid governments new tax levels

FrenchTart · 7 Mar 2012 at 23:31

Teh noes. It's a pretty horrendous beer anyhow

DcD · 7 Mar 2012 at 23:34

divaboy said:
Nope stella going down to 4.8 to avoid governments new tax levels

Oh I see, to be honest, I dont drink Stella anymore anyway... Used to quite like it but now I can't even finish a pint of lager. Gone totally off the stuff.

FrenchTart · 7 Mar 2012 at 23:36

DcD said:
Oh I see, to be honest, I dont drink Stella anymore anyway... Used to quite like it but now I can't even finish a pint of lager. Gone totally off the stuff.

If you've not already tried them then I recommend some delicious wheat beers instead (not hoegaarden). Erdinger is really amazing and not too heavy on the stomach - it's also readily available in a lot of supermarkets and many bars.

randomshenans · 8 Mar 2012 at 09:40

Over 5% lagers get the "strong beer" tax so obviously Stella trying to avoid that.

Glaucus · 8 Mar 2012 at 10:05

As allready said who cares, it tastes like arse anyway. Move to a decent pub which serves a decent selection.

Judgeneo · 8 Mar 2012 at 10:08

Phew, my strongbow is still 5.3%

Zero Pope · 8 Mar 2012 at 10:16

Can't stand lager personally, so I can't see how 0.2% difference is going make any real difference.

BunnyKillBot · 8 Mar 2012 at 10:35

Glaucus said:
As allready said who cares, it tastes like arse anyway. Move to a decent pub which serves a decent selection.

Stella has its place and suits it's purpose. I know what I like and I am proud of it.

If I am stocking up, my fridge has Stella and Guinness with a couple of bottles of Joseph holt maple moon on the side

Beasty · 8 Mar 2012 at 11:04

FrenchTart said:
If you've not already tried them then I recommend some delicious wheat beers instead (not hoegaarden). Erdinger is really amazing and not too heavy on the stomach - it's also readily available in a lot of supermarkets and many bars.

+1 for Erdinger!

topgun06 · 8 Mar 2012 at 11:17

DcD said:
Oh I see, to be honest, I dont drink Stella anymore anyway... Used to quite like it but now I can't even finish a pint of lager. Gone totally off the stuff.

FrenchTart said:
If you've not already tried them then I recommend some delicious wheat beers instead (not hoegaarden). Erdinger is really amazing and not too heavy on the stomach - it's also readily available in a lot of supermarkets and many bars.

Agree and agree!

I could finish a pint of lager... but I wouldn't enjoy it! Wheat beers are a nice alternative

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 8 Mar 2012 at 11:32

Completely stopped drinking Stella... Was around the same time I was jailed for wife beating.

Mason- · 8 Mar 2012 at 13:15

I drink San Miguel it's the only 5% that doesn't taste like arse IMO. Pretty cheap too.

citizenx13 · 8 Mar 2012 at 13:43

Add shot of vodka to can/pint...... problem solved wife beater re-initialised

Gribs · 8 Mar 2012 at 15:47

When did it go down to 5%? I'm sure it used to be 5.2% when I drunk it.

Ahleckz · 8 Mar 2012 at 17:03

Pathetic. The beer industry is rapidly growing in this country and the government introduce taxes which will punish those who are trying to push the boundaries.

I implore you to write to your MP and request that he signs Early Day Motion 2758 which requests the government to suspend the awfully unfair beer duty escelator in order to protect pubs, jobs and more importantly beer!

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2785

My MP, being a shadow minister can not sign EDMs but perhaps yours can!

You can just copy and paste this into an email to your local MP if you want.

As your constituent I’m writing to ask you to sign EDM 2785, “BEER DUTY ESCALATOR (No. 2)” and show your support for British beer and pubs in advance of the Budget on 21st March. Beer and pubs are under threat from a planned 5% increase in beer duty, which would put another 5p to 10p on the price of a pint in pubs in your constituency.

Pubs are the beating hearts of our communities providing safe places to meet friends whilst drinking responsibly. Pubs and beer are also critical to the UK economy, supporting one million full and part time jobs. The future of our pubs is however at risk with the latest research showing that 16 pubs a week are closing forever, unable to cope with tax increases of 35% since 2008.

A typical pub pint now costs over £1 in duty and VAT, and the beer duty escalator is set to increase tax by another 2% above inflation in this year’s Budget As a result a beer in the pub is becoming steadily less affordable, particularly at a time when disposable incomes are falling. The continuation of this beer duty escalator would have a devastating impact on the beer and pub sector and so would harm the fifteen million UK consumers who enjoy visiting the pub and drinking beer.

EDM 2785 calls on the Government to support Britain’s beer and pub sector by suspending the beer duty escalator to help reduce pub closures, create 5,000 additional jobs and ensure pub going remains an affordable leisure activity.

2012 is a year of national celebrations, so this is the perfect time to recognise the economic and social value of Great British beer and the role pubs play in our communities. I very much hope I can rely on your support and you will sign EDM 2785.

Kind Regards,

sehcure · 8 Mar 2012 at 17:05

Surprised they didn't go for 4.99% just to irk the tax people