Hungary to celebrate the foundation of the state with cheap beer: here is where you can drink it!
The Hungarian government is organising festivities between 17 and 20 August to celebrate the foundation of the Hungarian Christian state. To provide affordable drinks for the guests, the government will introduce a price cap on several products, including canned beer.
The energy and economic crisis, hand in hand with an all-consuming inflation, swept through Europe and the world in the last few years but probably hit Hungary the hardest. Food price inflation has reached more than 100% in the previous few years, so spending a holiday at Lake Balaton has become almost as expensive as in Croatia. We detailed that shocking development in THIS article.
No price cap on the festivities
The Orbán cabinet “fought” against the intense price rise with price caps introduced on products like fuel and basic foodstuff, but experts agree such measures just worsened the situation. Meanwhile, measures like the government’s unique price monitoring system did not have a noticeable effect.
However, the Orbán cabinet is keen to attract Hungarians, for example, with events like Saint Stephen’s Day festivities. Based on a statement shared before, they are preparing more than a hundred colourful programmes ending with grandiose fireworks. In July, we wrote that it will be more spectacular (and expensive) than ever before, stretching over 5 kilometres along the Danube instead of 4.3 kilometres. Some estimates suggest EUR 38.2 million only on fireworks.
Cheap beer, lots of programmes at Saint Stephen’s Day festivities
St Stephen’s Days’ programmes will feature the usual mini-festivals, and musical, cultural and gastronomic programmes at 19 venues. The venues will offer something to everyone, “from enthusiasts of cultural and musical performances to lovers of gastronomy and craft activities. At the same time, those interested in national history, as well as the regulars at the traditionalist shows and children’s programmes, will not be short of cultural adventures either.” You may read about the programmes HERE.
According to 24.hu, the Hungarian government is preparing cheap foods and drinks “to allow everybody to buy affordable drinks and foods”. Therefore, mineral water, canned beer and pretzel prices will be well below the market price between 17 and 20 August.
The new prices will be HUF 200 for 0.5l mineral water (EUR 0.5), HUF 400 for canned beer (EUR 1) and HUF 300 for a pretzel (EUR 0.75). Compared to last year, that is a HUF 50 price increase (33% and 15%) in the case of the first two foodstuffs. The average inflation in Hungary was 17.6%.
The cheap products will be available at the programme’s official 19 venues. HERE will be the map, but it does not operate yet.
Here is this year’s promo video:
Read also:
- Moderate rise at Sziget Festival this year: HERE are the prices
- 5 must-try Hungarian dishes for tourists: A mouth-watering culinary journey