Budget

As I am sure Ariadne will not respond herself, I think it should be noted that she does wonderful work for a school in Africa.

I think it's callous of you to celebrate someone's death, Frank, no matter how wronged you think you have been.

Raise a glass for me , Frankie , none of your old cheap plonk , make it a good one .

Ana

Look in Advice re winding up estate.

Off to the pub now

To celebrate what, Frank?
(As you don't drink beer...)

Frank You're not supposed to drink anything when you're driving, in the same way as you're not supposed to text on your mobile phone.
Do watch out - someone will be reporting you if you're not careful

Well I am off to my local to celebrate tonight and I do not care if it costs me a bit more.
I will walk there.

I drink beer and am something of an expert – only something of one – on real ale, which I have been drinking since I was about 18 or 19. I also drink wine and have a fair knowledge about wines too, although, apart from two bottles of 1970 Fonseca port, I have gradually drunk the contents of my wine racks (with help from guests) because I can't take the bottles with me when I emigrate.

The price of beer has been reduced by 1p per pint (pshaw). The price of wine and spirits has, once again, gone up.

Hunterf, I didn't say that all men drink beer, or that no women drink it, so please don't take it personally!

Probably Petrus with his 'London pension'

I am sure I saw a woman drinking beer at the theatre on Wednesday evening.

Frank

MamaCaz

I am a man and I do not like beer.
I drink red wine or soft drinks when I am driving.

Frank

1p off a pint of beer? It's so meaningless that it has left me fuming. Do politicians really think that we ordinary folks are so gullible, so simple that we will jump for joy at this announcement?

On top of that, it could be considered a very sexist measure, as 90% of those who drink beer are men. (Or maybe they are the ones they think gullible, rather than we women! )

Sorry, it's Petrus. A pommerol and its over $2000.
I've never tried it!

No, and that's the cheapest. I think the most expensive is the st petroc? At about £600 a bottle

35£ , you are havin a laff surely !!!!!!!!!!!

Galen , are not Cunard the most expensive ?

Cunard allow you to take booze aboard! At least they've never said anything about mine? The wine however is a lot more expensive than £20, £35 is about the cheapest I think.

Don"t blame you one bit . That is what is happening , the supermarkets are under cutting the pubs so much , people are staying at home to drink .

To be entirely truthfull , can you blame them ? What better than if one wants to have an evening with friends , all chip in and it works out so much cheaper . NOT quite to same but hey , in these straightened times , have to consider these things .

We were at friends for lunch yesterday , they love their cruising and would love us to go , but we won"t . However they were showing us menus ,etc and the wine was £20 a bottle . The ships will not allow one to take any kind of alcohol aboard , so really they have one by the short and curlies . SO, even if these cruises seem good value , if one enjoys a drink they are not.

That is my my take on it . Long live all-inclusive .

Nonu I suppose that depends on how much beer one drinks. At a rate of just under 3 pints per day that would save £10 in a year. However, it works out at about 19 pints (38 units) per week which is well over the recommended maximum limits for both men (21) and women (14). So no, it's not going to make much, if any difference.

The price of our usual round of 1 pint lager and 1 pint draught beer has just been increased by the brewery that owns our local by 20p, so Mr Osborne's generosity will not encourage us to go there more often.

I think taking ONE Penny of a pint of beer is nothing short of ridiculous .

What on earth difference is it going to make .

HUNTERF that is a very selfish opinion - 'Ive paid into it so I should have it'
To some pensioners these benefits are a mere amount in relation to their income and they should be happy for it to be diverted elsewhere. Let's face it - most of us accept the cash and wouldn't think of giving it to charity. Some need it but I would be quite happy not to get it if I knew that it was being diverted to something worthwhile.

Oops! No indeed it isn't.. a sop to win the beer drinkers vote and tbh i guess the Barclay's banker is more used to vintage claret or owning the whole brewery than a couple of pints on a Saturday night!! [hmm!]

nanaej It's a penny off the price of beer, plus not putting it up by 3p as originally intended. It's hardly going to change the state of the economy though.

Just read that Barclay's head of investment banking, a rich racehorse owner, got abonus that is equivalent to about 730 average annual salaries.

I am not commenting out of jealousy..I am fortunate to have a lovely home and comfortable pension and am able to live a life I enjoy.

But I cannot see how any individual is worth almost £40m as a bonus! And what does he do with it all???

I know it is not dirctly a budget question but he is not going to worry about a penny on beer!