Landlord of Abingdon pub The Cross Keys, Roland Mayer-Jones, said: "I think the chancellor missed the point here, which is to tackle binge drinking. He said that alcohol had gone down in real terms but he was talking about supermarket prices.

"These increases won't affect supermarkets too much, but with our overheads it will affect pubs more.

"So binge drinkers will still be able to tank up cheaply without entering the more controlled drinking environment provided by pubs.

"I think the Government should set a minimum acceptable price of alcohol in shops.

"I don't think that prices have come down in real terms in recent years in pubs and I feel we are being forced to work with our hands behind our backs, when we could help the Government in its bid to fight binge drinkers."

The Chancellor raised beer prices by 4p a pint, wine by 14p a bottle, cider by 3p, and spirits by 55p a bottle.