UK alcohol prices second highest in EU league table

The UK comes second to Ireland in the European league table for drinks pricing, according to official EU figures. Prices of consumer goods were measured across 27 member states in 2010. Only Ireland is a more expensive place to buy alcohol.

The agency calculated an average price level across the EU and gave it a value of 100. The cheapest countries - Romania and Bulgaria - scored 64. The UK scored more than double that figure, at 142, while Ireland registered 170. Sweden scored 140, followed by Finland (136)France and Germany were closer to the EU average with respective scores of 108 and 98.

The figures are released at a time when many campaigners argue drinks are being sold too cheaply in the UK and government intervention is required to make alcohol less affordable.