On 23 September 2022, Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng delivered his Growth Plan 2022, setting out Government plans to tackle the rising cost of living and tame inflation. This included the decision to freeze alcohol duty from February 2023.
In response, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said:
“Today’s announcement to freeze alcohol duty once again will have a devastating impact on our health and social care services.
“Deaths from alcohol are at an all-time high, and making alcohol even cheaper will only serve to amplify the health inequalities that cripple our country.
“Alcohol duty cuts will have cost the Treasury over £8 billion over the last decade. With the NHS in crisis, we cannot afford any more.”
