Freezing duty on alcohol undermines plans for healthier tax system, say experts

Alcohol misuse experts have warned that the government’s reforms of alcohol taxes are undermined by the decision to freeze alcohol duty for another year, which they said could encourage more alcohol consumption.

The government unveiled plans to overhaul the current alcohol duty system in its autumn budget,1 claiming it will tax stronger types of alcohol more heavily to make the system fairer and healthier.

In his budget speech, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said the current system was “outdated, complex, and full of historical anomalies,” and the reforms would see drinks taxed in direct proportion to their alcohol content.

The new approach would involve reducing the number of bands at which different duties …