The UK Government have announced that the freeze on alcohol duty will now be extended until August 2023.
In response, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said:
“We are pleased that the UK Government are continuing with plans for a reformed duty system next August.
“Nonetheless, it is disappointing that duty rates will be frozen until then, delaying much-needed public health benefits at a time when we are experiencing record-high alcohol deaths.
“The duty uprating which will now be delayed was expected to bring in an extra £1.4 billion per year, money which could have been invested into the NHS to protect the nations’ health. The Government needs to start putting people’s health before big businesses’ profits straight away.
“Furthermore, this decision will actually serve to put more pressure on pubs by helping supermarkets to maintain the low prices that undermine sales in the hospitality sector.”
