Buying Beer online has started to be quite popular. So popular that the number of websites and online beer retailers has increased during the last 12 month by 68%. The number is expected to rise due to the number of breweries prepared to counter the falling sales in cheap beer through the super-markets.
This isn't so much concern for the UK governemnt as the buyers will statistcially be people who are wover 40 and drink sensisbly 'at home'. Compared with under age drinking and binge drinking youngsters buying from the super-markets this can only be encouraged.
Where the concern lies is that the big breweries has discovered a channel that can replace the existing cheap beer channel and this is not good for pubs and places where beer drinkers can gather and socialise. Drinking in pubs has become too expensive. Pubs are alienating their regulars because there is no choice but to pass on the rising prices by both the government in taxes and the breweries in operational costs.