Thank you for contacting me about alcohol duty.
To support alcohol producers, pubs, and the hospitality sector, at Spring Budget 2024, the last Government announced a freeze in alcohol duty from 1 August 2024 until 1 February 2025, extending the six-month freeze announced at Autumn Statement 2023. This resulted in 2p less duty on an average pint of beer, 1p less duty on an average pint of cider, 10p less duty on an average bottle of wine, and 33p less duty on an average bottle of spirits, than if the planned duty increase had gone ahead.
I welcome that, from February 2025, the Government cut alcohol duty on draught products, reducing it by 1p per average strength pint. I am, however, disappointed that alcohol duty on non-draught products increased in line with inflation.
More widely, I am also disappointed that the Chancellor announced £40 billion in tax increases, the largest in a generation, breaking promise after promise and raising taxes for working people.
I will urge Ministers to take further steps to support alcohol producers, pubs, and the hospitality sector.