A THIRD of residents in the north west confessed to sneaking booze into bars to avoid paying pub prices, a new survey revealed.

With alcohol prices on the increase, drinkers in the region are also becoming more savvy by buying cheaper brands, staying in at home, or even giving up booze altogether, a study by TopCashback.co.uk found.

More than a half of residents said they’d bought a brand cheaper than their preferred choice in order to cut costs, and more than 65 per cent said they were considering ‘altering their lifestyle’ by giving alcohol up completely.

The survey also found 18 to 20-year-olds the most likely to cut back on drinking to save money, while 75 per cent of the 302 people surveyed said they felt ‘unsociable’ if they were not drinking but their friends were.