Which beers are weaker in Britain?
26 beers on this site are weaker in the United Kingdom than the version sold in their home market. 15 of them are brewed in Britain to a lower strength than the home version; the other 11 are imported, wholly or partly, or we have not confirmed where they are brewed. The gap is the same either way. The widest gap is shared by Amstel and Grolsch Premium Pilsner, each 1.6 percentage points weaker here than at home (Amstel is 3.4% here against 5.0% at home). A further 50 match their home strength and 1 is stronger here. The rest have no home-market figure on record, so no comparison is possible. If you would rather buy the version that matches its home market, the imports that arrive at full strength are listed here. For every beer by strength, weaker or not, see the strength chart.
The threshold that explains most of it
UK alcohol duty is charged in bands. The step at 3.5% is the one that shapes the supermarket shelf: beer below it is taxed at a materially lower rate per litre of alcohol than beer above it. That is why twelve beers on this site sit at exactly 3.4%, a tenth of a percent under the line, and why several of them were cut to that figure from something higher.
The numbers behind the chart
| UK strength | Beers | Of which sold as foreign and brewed here |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3% | 1 | 1 |
| 3.4% | 12 | 5 |
| 3.5% | 1 | 0 |
| 3.6% | 3 | 0 |
| 3.8% | 3 | 1 |
| 4.0% | 6 | 3 |
| 4.1% | 4 | 0 |
| 4.2% | 4 | 0 |
| 4.3% | 1 | 0 |
| 4.4% | 2 | 1 |
| 4.5% | 13 | 5 |
| 4.6% | 10 | 6 |
| 4.7% | 10 | 1 |
| 4.8% | 15 | 6 |
| 4.9% | 1 | 0 |
| 5.0% | 16 | 6 |
| 5.1% | 1 | 0 |
| 5.2% | 2 | 0 |
| 5.3% | 1 | 0 |
| 5.4% | 2 | 0 |
| 5.5% | 3 | 0 |
| 5.6% | 1 | 0 |
| 5.9% | 1 | 0 |
| 6.0% | 1 | 0 |
The published rates, the arithmetic for a single can and what the brewers have said about it are set out in why so much beer in Britain is exactly 3.4% strong.
The bands themselves are set by HM Revenue and Customs. We record the strengths and the dates; the rates are quoted in the guide with their source.
The gap, beer by beer
Widest gap first. Every figure is the strength recorded on this site for the UK product and for the home market, each with its own source on the beer's page.
| Beer | Sold as | UK | At home | Difference | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amstel | Netherlands | 3.4% | 5.0% | 1.6 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Grolsch Premium Pilsner | Netherlands | 3.4% | 5.0% | 1.6 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Rosa Blanca | Spain | 3.4% | 4.8% | 1.4 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Carlsberg Danish Pilsner | Denmark | 3.4% | 4.6% | 1.2 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Beck's | Germany | 4.0% | 4.9% | 0.9 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Kronenbourg 1664 | France | 4.6% | 5.5% | 0.9 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Bud Light | United States | 3.4% | 4.2% | 0.8 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Coors Lager | United States | 3.4% | 4.2% | 0.8 percentage points | 4 September 2026 |
| Estrella Damm | Spain | 4.6% | 5.4% | 0.8 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Estrella Galicia Especial | Spain | 4.7% | 5.5% | 0.8 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Sol | Mexico | 3.4% | 4.2% | 0.8 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Mahou Cinco Estrellas | Spain | 4.8% | 5.5% | 0.7 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Michelob Ultra | United States | 3.5% | 4.2% | 0.7 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Leffe Blonde | Belgium | 6.0% | 6.6% | 0.6 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Stella Artois | Belgium | 4.6% | 5.2% | 0.6 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Budweiser | United States | 4.5% | 5.0% | 0.5 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Super Bock | Portugal | 4.7% | 5.2% | 0.5 percentage points | 21 September 2026 |
| Cruzcampo Sevilla | Spain | 4.4% | 4.8% | 0.4 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Kirin Ichiban | Japan | 4.6% | 5.0% | 0.4 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
| Mythos | Greece | 4.6% | 5.0% | 0.4 percentage points | 8 September 2026 |
| San Miguel Especial | Spain | 5.0% | 5.4% | 0.4 percentage points | 28 September 2026 |
| Birrificio Angelo Poretti 4 Luppoli | Italy | 4.8% | 5.0% | 0.2 percentage points | 8 September 2026 |
| Singha | Thailand | 4.8% | 5.0% | 0.2 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Tiger | Singapore | 4.8% | 5.0% | 0.2 percentage points | 9 September 2026 |
| Tyskie Gronie | Poland | 5.0% | 5.2% | 0.2 percentage points | 6 September 2026 |
| Guinness Draught | Ireland | 4.1% | 4.2% | 0.1 percentage points | 5 September 2026 |
The same strength as at home
| Beer | Sold as | UK | At home | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alhambra Reserva 1925 | Spain | 6.4% | 6.4% | 5 September 2026 |
| Asahi Super Dry | Japan | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Asahi Super Dry 0.0 | Japan | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6 September 2026 |
| Beck's Blue | Germany | 0.05% | 0.05% | 5 September 2026 |
| Birra Menabrea Bionda | Italy | 4.8% | 4.8% | 19 September 2026 |
| Birra Moretti L'Autentica | Italy | 4.6% | 4.6% | 9 September 2026 |
| Bitburger Premium Pils | Germany | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5 September 2026 |
| Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn Lager | United States | 5.2% | 5.2% | 9 September 2026 |
| Budweiser Budvar Original | Czech Republic | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Chang Classic | Thailand | 5.0% | 5.0% | 6 September 2026 |
| Chimay Blue | Belgium | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9 September 2026 |
| Coopers Original Pale Ale | Australia | 4.5% | 4.5% | 9 September 2026 |
| Corona Extra | Mexico | 4.5% | 4.5% | 5 September 2026 |
| Corona Cero | Mexico | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Damm Daura | Spain | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9 September 2026 |
| Desperados | Mexico | 5.9% | 5.9% | 9 September 2026 |
| Duvel | Belgium | 8.5% | 8.5% | 5 September 2026 |
| Erdinger Weissbier | Germany | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5 September 2026 |
| Estrella Damm Inedit | Spain | 4.8% | 4.8% | 6 September 2026 |
| Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier | Germany | 5.0% | 5.0% | 6 September 2026 |
| Guinness 0.0 | Ireland | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Guinness Extra Stout | Ireland | 4.2% | 4.2% | 5 September 2026 |
| Guinness Foreign Extra Stout | Ireland | 7.5% | 7.5% | 6 September 2026 |
| Heineken Original 5% | Netherlands | 5.0% | 5.0% | 6 September 2026 |
| Heineken 0.0 | Netherlands | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Heineken Silver | Netherlands | 4.0% | 4.0% | 6 September 2026 |
| Hoegaarden | Belgium | 4.9% | 4.9% | 6 September 2026 |
| Birra Ichnusa | Italy | 4.7% | 4.7% | 9 September 2026 |
| Krombacher Pils | Germany | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5 September 2026 |
| Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc | France | 5.0% | 5.0% | 8 September 2026 |
| La Chouffe Blonde | Belgium | 8.0% | 8.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Miller Genuine Draft | United States | 4.7% | 4.7% | 9 September 2026 |
| Murphy's Irish Stout | Ireland | 4.0% | 4.0% | 9 September 2026 |
| Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrub | Germany | 5.5% | 5.5% | 9 September 2026 |
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro | Italy | 5.1% | 5.1% | 11 September 2026 |
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0 | Italy | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro Stile Capri | Italy | 4.2% | 4.2% | 9 September 2026 |
| Pilsner Urquell | Czech Republic | 4.4% | 4.4% | 5 September 2026 |
| Red Stripe | Jamaica | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5 September 2026 |
| Sagres | Portugal | 5.0% | 5.0% | 9 September 2026 |
| San Miguel 0.0 | Spain | 0.05% | 0.05% | 6 September 2026 |
| Sapporo Premium Beer | Japan | 5.0% | 5.0% | 19 September 2026 |
| Smithwick's | Ireland | 3.8% | 3.8% | 6 September 2026 |
| Spaten Munchner Hell | Germany | 5.2% | 5.2% | 6 September 2026 |
| Staropramen Premium Czech Lager | Czech Republic | 5.0% | 5.0% | 9 September 2026 |
| Stella Artois 0.0 | Belgium | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 September 2026 |
| Tuborg Green | Denmark | 4.6% | 4.6% | 9 September 2026 |
| Warsteiner Premium Verum | Germany | 4.8% | 4.8% | 9 September 2026 |
| Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier | Germany | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5 September 2026 |
| Zywiec Premium | Poland | 5.5% | 5.5% | 6 September 2026 |