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Duty: Which of the UK’s favourite tipples have increased in price?
The alcohol duty changes yesterday (1 August) have resulted in a number of Britain’s favourite drinks increasing in price. db takes a look.
Wine was described as the ‘biggest loser’ of the duty changes, but it was by no means the only drink seeing significant rises in price per bottle.
Yesterday, PM Rishi Sunak attended the Great British Beer Festival to promote the government’s changes to alcohol duty, the biggest change to the system in 140 years, although he was met with a mixed reception.
The price rises from highest to lowest (percentage):
The losers:
Sherry: A 15% ABV 75cl bottle has risen from £2.23 to £3.20 in duty, which is a rise of almost £1 (0.97p) or 44%.
Port: A 20% ABV 75cl bottle has increased from £2.98 to £4.27 – a rise of significantly more than one pound – £1.29 – and also like sherry a rise of 44%.
Still Wine: An average 12.5% 75cl has gone from £2.23 to £2.67, which is an increase of £0.44 or a 20% increase in duty.
Vodka: A 37.5% bottle has increased from £7.54 to £8.30, a rise of 10% or £0.75p.
Canned beer: A 400ml 4.5% can has gone up from £0.38 to £0.42, a rise of £0.04 or 10%. As a result of these changes, a number of large-scale breweries have undertaken ‘drinksflation’ to cut costs.
Canned cider: A 400ml 4.5% can of cider has increased by 1p from £0.18 to £0.19, which is a 8% rise.
The winners:
RTDs such as a pre-mix Gin & Tonic: A typical 250ml 5% can of RTD has decreased from £0.36 to £0.31 – a decrease of 5 pence or 14%.
Sparkling Wine: Although the overall wine category has lost out, a lower ABV sparkling will decline by around 19p from £2.86 to £2.67 or 7% down in duty.
Cream liqueur: An 17% ABV 70cl bottle is just on the side of winning, going from £3.42 to £3.39, a 1% decrease or 3p.
Draught cider and beer: The Chancellor’s ‘draught relief’ will impact prices at the hand pumps in the on-trade with a 4.5% ABV pint of cider reducing by 1p and a pint of 4.5% beer staying the same.