Heineken UK cuts Foster’s beer alcohol strength to 3.4%
Foster beer drinkers in the UK will soon see their beers drop to 3.4% alcohol.
Foster’s brewer Heineken UK said reducing the alcohol content from the current 3.7% would make the beer subject to lower alcohol tax rates.
The brewer hinted at cheaper beers, saying “customers benefit from more competitive pricing” due to the lower duty fee.
The change is scheduled to come into force in February and marks the second time in three years that Foster’s alcohol percentage, or ABV, has been diluted.
Heineken UK said it was responding to changes in UK government policy encouraging brewers to offer lower alcohol options.
The government introduced a new system of alcohol taxes based on alcohol content in August 2023, making lower-alcohol beers and ciders relatively cheaper than stronger alternatives.
Rival brewers Carlsberg Pilsner, Sol, Coors Light and Grolsch have since also reformulated the ABV to below 3.4% to qualify for the lower tax rate in the UK.
He insisted punters would not be able to notice the difference after “extensive” consumer testing.
“Our master brewers spent months developing the recipe to ensure the flavor remained unmistakably Foster’s – crisp, balanced and refreshing,” the beer giant said.
Heineken said there was a “continuous shift” in beer drinking trends towards lower ABV options “as part of a balanced and health-conscious lifestyle”.
Last month Heineken said global beer sales would fall next year as drinkers cut back on pressure on household budgets.
