Measure

Alcohol duty

The measure

The government will freeze alcohol duties until 1 August 2024 and delay its annual uprating decision to Spring Budget 2024. 

 

Who will be affected?

Producers, distributors, importers and/or consumers of beer, wine, spirits and cider. 

 

When will the measure come into effect?

The new measure results in a continuation of alcohol duty rates currently in force.

Our view

The government has cited its aim of allowing traders to adjust to the new duty system introduced on 1 August 2023, which saw a significant restructure of the system by which alcohol duties are applied, as the reason behind the announcement of this measure.

The measure will mean the rate at which excise duty is applied to the import and production of alcohol in the UK will not be increased until the spring. This news will be welcomed by the producers and distributors of alcohol products, as well as consumers in the run-up to Christmas.