Proposals from the European Commission will mean that British drinkers will have to wait until 2038 for the UK's high taxes on beer to fall into line with the rest of Europe.

The plans, which are aimed at reducing differences in duties in beer and wine prices in the EU would see taxes in countries such as Germany and Spain - where taxes are low - rise by 2003. Britain - which has the third highest taxes in the EU - would reach Brussels' desired level in about 36 years.