British brews, desi cheers: Thanks to cheaper imports, it looks like a summer of cooler pints and wider choices

There's refreshing news for guzzlers in the midst of an unsparing summer. Following the
India-UK Free Trade Agreement
, the import duty on British beer has been slashed by 75% – down from a steep 150%. Which means, your favourite chilled pint from the UK might soon be easier on the wallet.
Coupled with the rise of gastro pubs and microbreweries, Indian drinkers (except those in Karnataka*) have never had it so good.
'Slow sip, long conversations'
For many, beer and summer go hand in hand. But its popularity isn't seasonal. Beer ranks just behind hard liquor as India's most-consumed alcohol. 'Beer suits India's tropical climate – it's refreshing, low in alcohol, and lends itself to long chats or loud parties,' says Pankil Shah, co-owner of a Colaba resto-pub.
'It's casual, easy, and more 'sessionable' than spirits.' Debayan Datta, manager at a nationwide pub chain, agrees, 'Beer fits into every social scene – from house parties to cricket screenings.
'
Cheers to Brit beers:
Premium UK labels like Boddingtons, Newcastle Brown Ale, Fuller's, Carling, Cobra, John Smith's and Hobgoblin may become more accessible. 'These are maltier, low on hop bitterness and are great for those new to craft beer,' Shah adds.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy
IC Markets
Tìm hiểu thêm
Undo
'We're seeing growing interest in styles like IPAs (Indian Pale Ales) and stouts (like Guinness).' But there needs to be more awareness, felt Gurpreet Singh, owner of an alcohol brand in Bengaluru.
'Consumers buy beers like Corona and Hoegaarden because of Hollywood, Budweiser does well because of its global name. For UK beers to do well, they have to be better known,' Singh said.
Spoilt for choice:
Homegrown microbreweries remain a strong draw, especially for younger drinkers.
'Craft beer's low preservatives and competitive pricing keep it popular,' says Sk Samim, GM of a resto-pub chain in the East and Northeast. Between premium imported brands and a blooming homegrown industry of microbreweries, we may be now spoilt for choice as a beer-loving nation.
What's Trending
Crisp lagers: great for hot weather
Wheat beers: smooth with a fruity touch
Flavoured brews: mango, chili, coffee
Craft ales: bold, experimental sips
What FnB consultants and pub managers have to say:
The cut in import duty on UK beers will certainly widen the spectrum of choices for Indian consumers. This is also an opportunity for Indian craft and mainstream beers to get greater visibility in the UK, where there's increasing curiosity about world beers
– Rini Chatterjee, F&B consultant and experience designer, Delhi
Urban audiences are increasingly curious. Beer festivals and microbreweries have nurtured that curiosity
– Debayan Datta, pub-chain manager
(*The Karnataka conundrum: In its fourth liquor price hike in under two years, the Karnataka government has increased the additional excise duty (AED) on beer from 195% to 200%, while cheaper Indian Made Liquor (IML) brands are expected to rise by ₹15–₹20 per 180 ml quart)
Check out our list of the
latest Hindi
,
English
,
Tamil
,
Telugu
,
Malayalam
, and
Kannada movies
. Don't miss our picks for the
best Hindi movies
,
best Tamil movies,
and
best Telugu films
.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Standard

13 minutes ago

• Business Standard

Rupee slips 16 paise as West Asia tensions flare up; ends at 86.74/$

The Indian rupee fell after a day of advance as the US strikes at nuclear sites in Iran triggered a risk-off sentiment among investors. The domestic currency depreciated 16 paise to end at 86.74 against the dollar, after closing at 86.59 on Friday, according to Bloomberg. The currency has fallen 1.32 per cent so far this month. Rupee traded weak as the dollar index appreciated toward the 99 mark, indicating broader currency market imbalances, according to Jateen Trivedi, VP research analyst - commodity and currency at LKP Securities. Geopolitical tensions escalated after the US conducted airstrikes on three nuclear-related sites in Iran, raising volatility across global markets, he said. Iran's Parliament has reportedly approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the US struck three nuclear sites over the weekend. US President Donald Trump declared the three facilities 'totally obliterated,' and warned of greater attacks unless Iran makes peace with Israel. Crude oil prices pared gains after it rose as much as 5.7 per cent during the session. Brent crude price was up 0.25 per cent at $77.20 per barrel, while WTI crude prices were higher by 0.28 per cent at 74.05, as of 3:30 PM IST. Despite India's reliance on Iranian oil, it has diversified its sourcing from Russia and the US, reducing its dependence on the Gulf, according to Anil Kumar Bhansali, head of treasury and executive director at Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP. "However, higher oil prices could impact the current account, potentially weakening the rupee slightly. " The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to intervene to maintain market stability, and its forex reserves have reached $698 billion, nearing the all-time high of $705 billion, providing an ample buffer, Bhansali said. Meanwhile, after depreciating 1.29 per cent against the dollar this financial year, the rupee is expected to weaken more because of West Asian military conflicts, with the expectation that prices of crude oil will rise. According to a Business Standard poll, the majority of the respondents expect the rupee to depreciate to 87 a dollar by the end of July.

Business Standard

13 minutes ago

• Business Standard

Hormuz blockade may shrink Russian crude discounts for Indian refiners

Indian refiners may end up paying higher prices for Russian oil delivered in August due to escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—a key transit route for around 40 per cent of India's crude imports and more than half of its LNG supplies—industry sources said. The threat of an Iranian blockade has added pressure to shipping costs and tightened the global supply of Middle Eastern oil, prompting refiners to brace for reduced discounts on Russian crude. August negotiations underway Indian refiners began negotiations this week with Russian suppliers for August-loading crude, typically done 45 days ahead of delivery, a trader at a state-owned refiner said. While volumes may remain stable or decline, demand from countries like Turkey is intensifying. Over 70 per cent of India's Russian oil consists of the medium, sour Urals grade—also preferred by Turkish refiners, particularly amid disrupted Middle East flows. Discounts fall as freight and demand rise Russian oil discounts may fall to their lowest levels in months due to higher shipping costs and increased competition, two refinery traders told Business Standard. Russia currently supplies four out of every ten barrels of oil imported by India. 'We may have to pay more for Russian oil because the discounts on the grades may shrink,' said a senior trader at a state-run oil company. Discounts could narrow by 20–40 cents per barrel, potentially falling below $2 per barrel, refining sources said. For context, discounts stood at $10–$15 per barrel in 2023 and $5–$8 earlier this year. Tighter margins could impact the gross refining margins of Indian refiners, they added. Reliance, PSUs face squeeze on discounts At present, Indian state-run refiners secure discounts of about $2.50 per barrel on Russian crude, priced against the European Dated Brent benchmark on a delivered basis. Reliance Industries, the country's top Russian oil importer, obtains a higher $3-per-barrel discount under a 500,000 barrels-per-day term deal signed with Rosneft in December. Most Russian supplies to India, however, are purchased on the spot market. Espo demand from China may rise India may also face stiffer competition from China for the East Siberia–Pacific Ocean (Espo) grade in August, particularly as Chinese refiners lose access to Iranian crude due to ongoing conflict, an Indian refining executive said. China does not typically purchase Urals but prefers Espo, a lighter crude. India's purchases of Espo have increased this year amid China's declining demand. But with Iranian supply constraints, China's dependence on Espo may rise again. This month, Espo was India's second-largest imported Russian grade, at 162,000 barrels per day, according to ship-tracking data. Russia remains top supplier Russian crude made up a record 45 per cent of India's total crude imports during the first 23 days of June, exceeding 2.2 million barrels per day, according to Paris-based intelligence firm Kpler. Urals inflows reached an all-time high of 1.6 million bpd. Reliance Industries accounted for 722,000 bpd—roughly a third of total Russian imports. State-run refiners, led by Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation, together imported about 52 per cent. The remainder comprised lighter grades such as CPC Russia, Espo, and Arco.

Time of India

14 minutes ago

• Time of India

10 times salary increase in 5 years: Ankur Warikoo shares roadmap and the career bet that worked for him

Achieving rapid career growth in a short span is something many aspire to, but few manage to pull off. Entrepreneur, author, and content creator Ankur Warikoo recently opened up about how he increased his salary tenfold in just five years — a transformation driven by calculated risks, self-investment, and perseverance. Through a detailed account of his early struggles and key turning points, Warikoo shared on Linkedin a roadmap of how he went from earning Rs 15,000 a month to Rs 33 lakh per annum, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to grow in their career. From PhD Dropout to Entry-Level Job Warikoo began his professional journey at the age of 24 after dropping out of a PhD program in the US. With no clear direction and in urgent need of financial stability, he returned to India and started looking for work. Relying on newspaper ads and walk-in interviews, he eventually landed a position at a company. Despite lacking real-world experience, he was offered a monthly salary of around Rs 15,000 — more than he had expected. This first job involved designing training programs for corporate clients. Warikoo admitted he knew little about the practicalities of the workplace but was determined to prove himself. Observing how much better equipped his MBA-holding colleagues were, he started considering a management degree as a way to bridge the gap between his academic background in physics and the business world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Money Should You Have Before Hiring a Financial Advisor? SmartAsset Learn More Undo Risking It All for an MBA His decision to pursue an MBA marked a turning point. The course came with a hefty price tag and a loan repayment plan that meant he would need to earn at least Rs 35,000 a month after graduation — more than double what he was currently making. Despite it being the first loan ever taken in his family, Warikoo took the leap, betting on himself. While at the MBA college, he aimed to make the most of the experience. Although he didn't make it into the top 10% — usually the group that attracts top consulting firms — he remained active, maintained strong grades, and broadened his profile. His persistence paid off when he landed two job interviews. Breaking Into Consulting and Rapid Growth After a failed attempt with the first company and a shaky second round with the other one, Warikoo eventually secured an offer from the latter — a major win that placed him among the highest earners from his batch with a Rs 12 lakh per annum package. Within a year and a half, he was promoted — the fastest ever in the firm at the time — and his salary doubled. By the time he left AT Kearney in 2009, he was earning Rs 33 lakh per annum, a dramatic leap from his starting salary of ₹3 lakh five years earlier. Looking back, Warikoo credited his rise to the opportunities provided by those who believed in his potential. He emphasized that while others took a chance on him, he did his part by working hard and staying thankful. His key message: when someone bets on you, the best thing you can do is bet on yourself too.