If someone literally can't afford the price of a single beer then agree they might be excluded. However I doubt there are many in either the US or the UK for whom this is true. Even the down-and-outs seem to be able to afford alcohol.

I am currently unemployed. I'm living off my savings, which are going down fast. My only earned income comes from the occasional music gig, but this is not enough to live on, and besides there are expenses to pay which cancel out most of this - even the taxman recognises this. Last week I had a "folk experience" in a nearby pub, playing music in a session. Entry was free, and I spent less than £4 on drinks (beer prices are around average for the area). That strikes me as pretty good value for a full evening of music and good company. If I were really counting the pennies I could have emulated Flora Thompson's villagers and made a half-pint (just over £1) last the evening - now that would have been "authentic".