Sussex is one of the most expensive places to drink in England. Bitter, lager and wine are on average dearer than anywhere else.

If you want a pint of bitter, you will be extremely lucky to find a Sussex pub selling one for under £2.

The price of a pub pint has rocketed by 8p in the past year, twice the rate of inflation.

You also have to pay through the nose for lager. The average pint costs about £2.21, almost 14p more than some parts of Britain.

Wine is also leaping up in price. Drinkers would be lucky to find a small glass selling below £1.70 in the South-East.

Anyone who travels the country will have noticed the differences in prices.

The South-East is by far the most expensive region for property and this is now reflected in bar prices.

Residents only have to listen to the comments from people outside the South-East attending conferences in Brighton as they fork out for a round of drinks to appreciate the regional price differences.

If the average price of a pint of bitter in Sussex more than £2, a standard pint in the North West costs just £1.69. A huge difference.

However, it is wine which is really soaring according to a report by drinks trade magazine, The Publican. It shows the yearly price has gone up from £1.57 for a small glass to £1.67. Figures show a shot of whisky has on average gone up from £1.31 to £1.37.

Lorna Harrison, editor of The Publican, said: "We expect to see a small rise of 1p or 2p on alcoholic drinks each year but these figures are way above the norm."

Some tourist areas have blamed the increase in bar prices on the drop in the number of tourists. London especially was hit by the atrocities of September 11.

With managed pubs being pressured to meet almost impossible target figures, the way to increase turnover in a declining market is to push up prices.

However, it is the increase in property prices in areas such as Brighton and Hove that has pushed up the price of drinks.

Generally breweries set their prices in accordance with the area as they try to maximise profits.

The better the area, the higher the prices.

Higher property prices means higher rents and leases for the 250 pubs and bars in the city.

Pub chains are reluctant to sell their capital assets, which are sometimes the buildings themselves, but they do demand the maximum return.

Normally it is only when pubs are in the way of multi-million developments or their takings are so low they don't even cover staff costs that pub buildings are sold.

The hike in prices comes as more than half the pubs in Britain saw profits rise last year.

To give ministers their due, the Government has done its best to stabilise prices and in the case of small breweries, reduce the price of beer.

In his last budget, Chancellor Gordon Brown froze alcohol duty and reduced the amount of duty paid by micro-breweries by 14p a pint.

The onus was then on the breweries to pass this cut on to customers.

Pete Coppard, chairman of the Brighton and South Downs branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said: "You can still get a pint for under £2 in Sussex and Brighton and Hove but you have to know where to look.

"In some cases where pub chains like JD Wetherspoon sell cheaper beer, they have not done pubs in the surrounding area any good.

"In order to survive with less custom, these pubs have actually put up the price of beer."

Bev Robbins is a former chairman of the Sussex Society of Licensed Victuallers, whose Kemp Town Brewery now looks after a chain of pubs across the country.

He said: "The £2 pint came to Brighton and Hove more than three years ago. Where you have dearer property prices you get dearer alcohol because pubs have to pay more in business rates and other expenses."

Alan Edgar is the chief brewer at the Golden Galleon pub, Cuckmere Haven, near Seaford. It is a micro-brewery which makes distinctive beers from its home-grown hops. He believes too many of the big breweries are charging too much for their beer.

The Golden Galleon, which is in the Good Beer Guide, sells its most popular beers, Downland Bitter and Cuckmere Haven for £1.55 and £1.85.

Mr Edgar said: "There is still too much duty paid on alcohol in this country. It is about seven to eight times greater than in France. Only when we have standardisation of duty throughout Europe will drinkers get a fair deal."

A survey of beer prices across Sussex showed varying prices with only the occasional pint costing below £2.

The Red Lion in Hove sells Harveys at £2.20, The Sandrock Inn, Hassocks, sells John Smiths at £2.20.

At The Woolpack, Burgess Hill, a pint of Bass sells for £2, Tetleys Cask is £1.95 and Tetleys Smooth at £2. The Sussex Coaster, Peacehaven, sells a pint of John Smiths at £2.10.

Gullens wine bar in Saltdean sells a pint of John Smiths at £1.90 but only during the evening happy hour. It then rises to £2.15.

One of the most expensive pub chains in Sussex is Brighton-based Golden Lion Group, where a pint of Harveys is £2.35, and most drinks, including champagne, are priced higher than other pubs.

Owner of the Golden Lion Group, Dave Day insists his customers prefer to pay extra for high-quality themed surroundings, cleaned to a high standard and served by efficient staff.