I have always been a firm supporter of the wine industry, and until recently, I co-chaired the Wine & Spirits All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). In this time, I was proud to lead a campaign for the suspension of wine import certification.
I have heard from a number of my constituents who have raised concerns over changes to alcohol duty rates. I wrote to the Treasury earlier this year to share the views of my constituents and I have been reassured that these changes are being introduced to address the problem of harmful high-strength products being sold too cheaply. The new progressive manner in which alcohol is taxed will ensure higher strength products incur proportionately more duty, and these rates will be the same across all product categories.
More broadly, the Autumn Budget 2021 confirmed that duty rates on beer, cider, wine and spirits will be frozen for another year, a move which will save consumers £3 billion over the next five years, and provide further support to the hospitality industry and its suppliers as they recover from the pandemic. Duty rates on draught beer and cider will be cut by 5 per cent, taking 3p off a pint and further supporting pubs.
