Booze prices to soar as the extreme weather slows barley production

BOOZE prices are set to leap as a result of the extreme weather.

Grain traders warn barley production is down by almost a third, making gin, beer and whisky more expensive.

Britain is self-sufficient in barley and uses most of its crop to make alcoholic drinks.

But freezing temperatures last spring meant the seeds were planted much later.

Growers have already been forced to harvest three weeks early.

Jonathan Arnold from Robin Appel Ltd said booze prices would go up after the heat hit grain prices around the globe — making each ton up to £50 more expensive than it was last year.

He said: “I wouldn’t be able to say how much prices of the alcohol will rise, but they undoubtedly will.

“Of course, the price of raw materials is only a fraction of the cost of a pint.

Duty and taxes make up most of the cost, so it’s not all down to the barley price.”

Potatoes will also be smaller and pricier, producers warned on Monday.

Brits basked in 32C scorching sunshine on Monday – before thunderstorms bring the heatwave to a halt.

Monday was the last day of soaring temperatures with intense rain and cloudy skies forecast from Tuesday onwards.

It comes after people enjoyed 30C highs over the weekend with thousands flocking to parks, beaches and enjoying BBQs at home.

Britain was hotter than the Maldives but thunderstorms are set to make a return on Tuesday and Wednesday in the South.

Torrential downpours, lightning, hail and gusty winds could cause travel disruption across the country.

However, the fresher and wet outlook for the UK isn’t set to last for long.

The fall in temperatures is thought to be a temporary blip - with the heatwave returning with a vengeance towards the end of August.

Forecasters have predicted that the scorching British summer will end in October.

The record-breaking heatwave has been powered by a plume of blistering air from the Iberian Peninsula.

And experts are claiming Europe could stay super-heated until mid-Autumn.

A three-month weather forecast briefed by the Met Office to local authorities said: “For August-October, above-average temperatures are more likely than below-average.

“The probability the UK average temperature will fall into the warmest of our five categories is around 55 per cent. The coldest of our five categories is less than 5 per cent.”

The Met Office said: “Patchy cloud and rain will affect many northern and western parts, with some heavier showers in the far north and west.

“Very warm sunshine will continue for southeastern areas though.”

Describing Wednesday to Friday, it added: “Becoming cooler from Wednesday, with sunshine and showers for many.

“This theme will continue, with a risk of hail in the north towards the weekend, and rain in the southwest.”