I don’t get the ‘premium’ pricing of Guinness. It’s mass-produced probably pasteurised stuff.
What we need to see, which it appears may actually be happening, is a move away from the chain pub format, or at least the chains buying in some decent local brews in each area, so we the customers have more choice. This way, we could see the bland mass-produced stuff make way for decent beers of all kinds; Northern warm ales (served boiled cos it’s too cold and miserable up there to drink owt cold), golden ales, wheaty beers, proper German/Czech lagers, strong Dutch/Belgian stuff, and stuff from further afield. Oh, and more ciders on draught too. Most pubs serve just one draught cider if you’re lucky, invariably Strongbow or something.
Instead we get: Mass-produced Lager, Guinness and Strongbow mostly. Going to a pub should be about enjoying a nice pint in good company, not getting rat-arsed on cheap crap then having a fight. No wonder the Japanese are terrified. 😥