Britain’s oldest brewer has made some of its beers weaker to cut costs – but punters and landlords appear to back the move.

Shepherd Neame in Faversham, which has been brewing since 1698, says the changes are aimed at meeting growing demand from customers seeking a “healthier lifestyle”.

But cynics and industry experts also point out that producing weaker beers also saves brewers tax, and potentially production costs.

The company has lowered the ABV of two of its bottled beers. Spitfire Amber Ale is down from 4.5% to 4.2% and Bishop’s Finger is down from 5.4% to 5.2%.

A Shepherd Neame spokesperson says its customers are “increasingly choosing drinks with a lower alcohol content as part of a healthy lifestyle”.

“We hope this small change will encourage more people to try our award-winning flagship beers,” she added.

“The adjustment also brings the bottled products more in line with their draught equivalents, which are popular with customers across our pub estate.”

Steve Banford, landlord of the Bishop’s Finger in Canterbury, told KentOnline customers have not noticed the difference and he is seeing a trend for more drinkers wanting lower alcohol or 0% beers.

He said: “We first noticed that our new Spitfire delivery from Sheps had a different colour label and was marked with the lower alcohol. Then we got some official notification from the company.

“But, to be honest, I can’t taste the difference and customers say neither can they because it’s only a very small percentage.

“Most brewers have low or 0% options now – even Guinness, albeit in a can.

“I have customers who can’t have alcohol due to their medication, for example, but it still allows them to enjoy the taste.”

Meanwhile, retired BT worker Ian Morris, 67, who was sipping a pint of Sheps’ new draught Creekside outside the Cricketers in St Peter’s Street, doesn’t begrudge the brewer a break.

“I’d heard about the cut in alcohol percentage, though I don’t so much buy the healthier option spin,” he said.

“But the whole industry is struggling at the moment and the brewery is obviously trying to save money in face of spiralling costs, so you can’t blame them.

“To be honest, I prefer a slightly weaker beer, especially on hot days and you still get a good taste.

“I mean you don’t want to feel like you’re going to fall over after a couple of pints.”

“We have seen significant increases in the cost of raw materials, energy and energy-related products such as glass...”

The pub and restaurant industry is under huge financial pressure, largely driven by the massive increase in energy charges and produce which has forced up prices for customers.

Dubbed ‘drinkflation’, Shepherd Neame bosses say: “In line with other breweries, and most food and drink producers, we have seen significant increases in the cost of raw materials, energy and energy-related products such as glass.

“These increases are well above the headline rate of inflation. While we are doing everything possible to mitigate these costs, we have had to increase the price of all our beers.”

Shepherd Neame says it has undertaken extensive testing to ensure the lowered alcohol does not impact the taste.

But not everyone is happy. Robert Lineman, of Teynham, has accused the brewer of “ripping off” customers in a rant on the village’s ‘Next Door' social media forum.

“Outrageous that their pubs are still charging the same amount for their watered down beer...”

He claims reducing the ABV of the Spitfire ale results in a saving of 3p on each 500ml bottle.

Meanwhile, he says cutting the alcohol level of Bishop’s Finger leads to a tax saving of 2p per bottle.

“Outrageous that their pubs are still charging the same amount for their watered down beer,” he adds.

Industry experts say even small reductions in alcohol content can generate tax savings of 2p to 3p on every bottle – but this is not being passed on to drinkers.

Research fellow at the University of Sheffield’s alcohol research group, Colin Angus, has been reported saying that if every brewery cut alcohol by just 0.3 per cent, they would collectively save around £250 million on duty payments to the government.

Shepherd Neame is not the only brewer to weaken their beers to save money.

Both Fosters and Old Speckled Hen are reported to have done so.

Chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, Emma McClarkin, agrees a minor reduction in ABV helps to keep costs from rising too much.

“Brewers have faced mounting price increases across supply chains in the past two years, and as far as possible they have absorbed costs to avoid customers paying over the odds for their beer,” she said.

“While the price of other consumer goods has risen on average by 24%, brewers have worked hard to keep the impact of disrupted supply chains and cost increases to customers at a minimum, with average cost of beer increasing by less than half of that, at 12%.”