Thank you for contacting me about alcohol duty and support for pubs.
To support alcohol producers, pubs, and the hospitality sector, at Spring Budget 2024, the former 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 will result 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 will be watching carefully to see whether the new Government is prepared to carry on with this freeze. More broadly, I will urge Ministers to address the challenges faced by the hospitality sector.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
