Pub Nights vs Holiday Fund
See how many holidays you could book by cutting back on pub visits
A pint in the UK now costs £5.17 on average. In London? £6.10. Twice-weekly pub visits add up to £1,280 per year. That’s two holidays to Greece or nearly three trips to Bulgaria.
Between 2024 and 2025, pint prices jumped 9p while holiday costs rose up to 11.5%. Your wage probably didn’t keep pace. This calculator shows you the maths.
How This Works
The calculation is straightforward. We multiply your cost per pint by how many you drink per visit, add any extra spending on food or snacks, then multiply by your weekly visit frequency. That gives us your weekly pub spend. Multiply by 52 weeks for your annual total.
Formula: (Pint Cost × Pints Per Visit + Extra Spend) × Visits Per Week × 52 = Annual Pub Spend
Pint prices come from Morning Advertiser data published in May 2025, showing the UK average at £5.17. Holiday costs are from Which? research comparing 2024 versus 2025 package deals. The UK median salary figure (£34,963) comes from Office for National Statistics 2024 data.
This is based on average data; your situation may differ. Craft beers cost more. Some regions charge less. Holidays vary wildly by season and booking time. Think of this as a starting point, not gospel.
Why This Matters Right Now
UK alcohol consumption just hit a record low. The average adult now drinks 10.2 drinks per week, down from previous years. But those who still go to pubs face steeper bills than ever.
Lumina Intelligence reports the average pub visit now costs £24.59, up 7.3% year-on-year as of June 2025. At the same time, inflation squeezed household budgets. Real wages barely moved. The result? Every pint represents a bigger chunk of your disposable income.
Meanwhile, holiday prices climbed. Bulgaria packages jumped 11.5% to £1,157 per person. Turkey rose 4.6% to £1,296. Only a handful of destinations got cheaper. This creates a stark choice: frequent pub nights or annual getaways.
According to Nimble Fins, UK households spend £15.30 per week on alcohol (£6.20 drinking out, £9.10 at home). That’s £796 annually. For many, that’s a week in Spain plus spending money. The trade-off is real and immediate.
Real People, Real Numbers
What You Could Actually Afford
| Weekly Pub Spend | Annual Total | Holiday Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| £15 | £780 | Bulgaria (£1,157) – needs 31 more weeks of saving |
| £25 | £1,300 | Turkey (£1,296) + £4 spending money |
| £35 | £1,820 | Greece (£1,231) + Spain (£1,106) – need £517 more |
| £50 | £2,600 | 2× Turkey holidays (£2,592) + £8 left |
| £75 | £3,900 | 3× Spain holidays (£3,318) + £582 spending money |
These figures assume you redirect 100% of pub spending to holidays. Most people won’t do that. But cutting visits by half? That’s one proper holiday right there.
The Regional Reality
Where you live changes everything. A pint in the Midlands averages £4.68. In London it’s £6.10. That’s a 30% difference.
Someone in Birmingham spending £20 weekly on pubs pays £1,040 annually. Move to London with the same drinking habits, and you’re looking at £1,352. That’s an extra £312 – nearly enough for a budget weekend in Amsterdam.
South West England residents spend the most on alcohol overall (£17.10 weekly). North East residents spend the least (£12.40). The gap is £243 per year. Not life-changing, but enough for flights somewhere warm.
FAQs
How accurate are these holiday prices?
Holiday costs come from Which? analysis of 2025 package deals, published January 2025. Prices vary wildly based on when you book, travel dates, hotel quality, and departure airport. These are per-person prices for week-long packages. Booking six months ahead usually gets you better deals. Last-minute bookings in peak summer? Expect to pay 20-40% more.
Does this include all pub costs?
The calculator covers your drinks plus any food or snacks you add. It doesn’t include transport to the pub, tips, or rounds you buy for friends. Lumina Intelligence data shows the average pub visit costs £24.59 total, which suggests most people spend beyond just their own drinks. Add those extras in the “Extra spend per visit” field for accuracy.
What if I drink at home instead of pubs?
Home drinking is far cheaper. Tesco sells Stella Artois at roughly £1.50 per pint equivalent versus £5+ in pubs. UK households spend £9.10 weekly on home alcohol versus £6.20 drinking out, according to Nimble Fins. You save about 70% by drinking at home, but you lose the social aspect. This calculator focuses on pub spending because that’s where the big savings potential lives.
How do pint prices compare across UK regions?
London tops the list at £6.10 average, with some areas charging £7+ for premium lagers. The Midlands offers the cheapest pints at £4.68. Other regions cluster between £4.80-£5.40. Northern Ireland and Scotland have similar prices to Northern England. Wetherspoons maintains lower prices nationwide, averaging around £3.50-£4.00, but most independent pubs charge the regional averages shown here.
Are people actually drinking less in the UK?
Yes. UK alcohol consumption hit a record low in 2024, with the average adult drinking 10.2 drinks weekly. That’s down from higher levels in previous decades. The 18-24 age group shows the steepest decline. About 12.5% of UK adults now identify as teetotal. The trend is clear: younger people drink less, older habits persist. But for those who still frequent pubs, costs have risen sharply.
What destinations offer the best value in 2025?
Albania, Turkey, and Bulgaria lead for budget beach holidays. Montenegro and parts of Greece (especially Kos) offer good value. Spain’s mainland costs less than the islands. Avoid peak summer weeks in July-August when prices spike 30-50%. Shoulder season (May, June, September) gives you better weather than the UK at lower prices. Budget £30-50 daily for accommodation and food in the cheapest destinations.
Should I really stop going to the pub?
That’s your call, not ours. Pubs offer social connection, community, and mental health benefits that holidays don’t replace. The point isn’t to guilt you about drinking. It’s to show the actual numbers so you can make informed choices. Maybe cut from three visits to two per week. Maybe alternate between pubs and cheaper alternatives. Or decide the pub is worth every penny and skip the holiday. Just know what you’re choosing.
How much do high earners spend on alcohol?
The top 10% of UK earners (£97,292+ disposable income) spend £28.10 weekly on alcohol – that’s £1,461 annually. The lowest 10% spend £7.30 weekly or £381 yearly. Higher earners spend over four times more. This reflects both more frequent drinking and preference for premium drinks. Middle-income households (£30,000-£50,000) typically spend £15-20 weekly.