Excise duty - alcohol
The measure
The new measures increase the excise duty rates for alcohol. Excise duty is increased by 2% for all alcohol products. The increase will, on average, add 1p to the price of a pint of beer or a litre bottle of still cider, 4p on a bottle of wine or sparkling cider, 5p on a bottle of sparkling wine and 13p on a 70cl bottle of spirits.
Who will be affected?
A wide range of businesses and consumers.
When?
The increase will take effect on 23 April 2009.
This increase amounts to a significant increase particularly when taking into account the 8% increase which took effect in December 2008. These increases will be especially disappointing for the brewing industry and pubs which have been suffering a strong decline and will see these increases as exacerbating the problems they already face.
