September 20, 2000 -- It seem like everyone is complaining about the high price of gas these days. Newspapers are crammed with stories and editorials about it, truckers are mounting blockades over it and drivers are just plain infuriated by it. But the high price of gas is nothing compared to the high price of beer!

Consider this: In Toronto, where World of Beer has its base of operations, the price of gas was 74.5 cents per litre yesterday. Expensive, yes. But downtown at the Esplanade Bier Markt, they are charging $6.14 for an Imperial pint of St. Ambroise Pale Ale, which works out to $10.81 per litre. Home consumption is better, but still pricy when compared to gas, with the going price of a six-pack of Black Oak Pale Ale being $9.35 or $4.59 per litre.

Canadians have a history of seeking price relief by driving south of the border, but the same kind of inequities exists in the United States, as well. Over at drinks.com, a six-pack of Anchor Steam is being sold for $7.99, which works out to $14.20 a gallon, and during happy hour, San Francisco's Toronado is offering that same beer for 2.50 per pint, or $16.00 a gallon. The cost of gas? In the Midwest, where prices are typically at their highest, USA Today reports the price being a relatively modest $1.80/gallon.

Finally, in Europe's stronghold of high-priced petrol, English gasoline is currently on offer for 77.9 pence per litre. This is certainly expensive compared to Canada and the U.S., but a bargain compared to the 2.20 British pounds I paid last month for a pint of Harvey's Sussex at London's famed White Horse pub (that's 3.87 pounds per litre) or the 19.49 pounds they are charging at lastorders.com for a dozen half-litres of Batemans XXXB (3.25 pounds a litre).

So the next time that you find yourself complaining about the ridiculously high price of gas, just be thankful that you don't have to fill your car's tank with beer!

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