Drinking in the UK is more expensive than in most EU countries

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced how much will be added to alcohol prices you pay in shops, bars, pubs and restaurants in the year ahead with a statement as part of today's Budget. Alcohol tax in the UK is an excise duty paid by producers and importers, calculated based on the strength (ABV) and category of the alcohol

Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget speech that alcohol duty would rise in line with inflation. It normally rises in line with the Retail Price Index from September – which this year was 4.5%.

The duty is hugely important to the UK economy. For the financial year 2025-26, the UK’s Alcohol Duty is forecast to raise around £13billion. That amount corresponds to 1.1% of all government receipts, about £450

See Full Page