Almost £500,000 worth of Ireland's world famous stout is lost each year in the moustaches and beards of imbibers of the creamy headed black stuff.

Research carried out in the UK by Guinness reveals that an estimated 92,370 moustachioed drinkers of the Irish brew lose up to 162,719 pints each year.

In monetary terms, this translates into a loss of £423,070 for pint drinkers.

"A genuine moustache has been proven to contribute to a significant Guinness wastage, as a result of inter-fibre retention at every sip," the company said in a statement.

For those trying to count the cost of their moustache, the research reveals that an average Guinness drinker with a tache like sports presenter Des Lynam is losing over £12 a year, while those with a goatee like pop singer George Michael are £9 out of pocket.

A full beard could cost you around £23 in lost Guinness - although the findings showed that the amount varies according to the thickness of the facial hair.

Hirsute drinkers in Belfast were less than impressed with the latest revelations.

"I'd like to become a Guinness researcher," said actor Tim McGarry.

The star of BBC Northern Ireland's "Hole in the Wall Gang" comedy show believes that a profession in which research into the undiscovered dimensions of his favoured tipple would be an ideal way to earn a living.

The research was not carried out in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland where a representative has distanced the company from the latest findings.