They blame rises in the cost of hops and barley. Brewery boss Stephen Crawley said: “Brewers have never known raw material prices to increase the way they are at the moment.”

Mr Crawley, of the Edinburgh-based Caledonian Brewery, added: “Who knows if we will see the £4 pint in 2008, but in some London and other city venues I think it will happen.”

Industry chiefs fear price rises will kill off thousands of pubs.

Scottish trade leader Paul Waterson said supermarkets were turning Britain into “a nation of take-home drinkers”.

Taken from: http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk