UK alcohol duty steady before a revolution in 2023

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces a revolution in alcohol duty that simplifies duty and makes low alcohol wines cheaper, while hitting higher alcohol wines.

The new duty for most wines between 8.5% and 22% will be based on the amount of alcohol in the drink. This will give a price advantage to lower alcohol wines.

Miles Beale, of WSTA, a lobby group for large producers, said 'We are mystified by a proposal that embeds unfairness between products meaning that beer will be taxed between 8p to 19p per unit, wine increases to 26p per unit and spirits remains at 29p per unit'.

The big change for wine, is that sparkling wines will no longer be taxed at a premium to still wines, and will see duty drop by 53p per bottle in 2023. In general, wines at 12% or higher will see a duty rise while wines below 11.5% will see a decrease in duty. Red wines, with their typically higher alcohol levels, will be taxed more.