Soft Drink Prices Are Inflated

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Landlords have been criticised for charging 'hugely inflated' prices for soft drinks.

Trading standards officials found pubs charging up to pounds 2.25 for a small bottle of water, pounds 1.70 for half a pint of Coke and pounds 1.65 for a small orange juice.

In Birmingham, landlords were found to be charging up to pounds 1.35 for half a pint of orange squash compared with just 10p in Northumberland.

The findings come in the run-up to Christmas when motorists are urged to leave their car at home if they go out drinking.

Diane Telford, from the Trading Standards Institute, said: 'Our colleagues in the police are currently waging their annual …