We’re all feeling the financial pinch, but arguably no one is feeling it more than Australian cricket journalist Peter Lalor after he was charged £55 300 (R1m) for a single beer.
Peter ordered a bottle of Deuchars IPA at a Malmaison hotel in Manchester. The drink was supposed to cost £5.50 (R100) but something went wrong when a member of staff came to take payment.
In a series of posts on Twitter, Peter wrote: "I didn't have my reading glasses when she presented me with a bill for the beer and when she had some problems with the machine I didn't think much of it, but it was eventually resolved. I said I didn't want a receipt and she went to leave.
"Something, however, made me ask 'how much did I just pay for that beer?”
Peter was told that £55 300 had been taken from his account, along with a transaction fee of £1 380 (R25 000).
The smaller fee has since been refunded, but Peter is still waiting to be paid back the rest of the money.
A spokesperson for the hotel says it is investigating what took place.
Peter jokes about the experience, saying: “If you are thinking that no beer is worth the best part of AU$100 000 (R1m), then I am inclined to agree with you.”
