UK duty review welcomed

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement that the Government would review the current alcohol duty system with a view to making reforms after the conclusion of the ‘transition period’ – the period over which the UK is to negotiate a new UK-EU relationship - has been welcomed by the British Beer & Pubs Association.

The BBPA, the UK’s leading trade association representing brewers and pubs in the UK,  also welcomed the more recent publication of an expected timescale of September for conducting the alcohol duty review.

The Chancellor announced that all alcoholic drink duty rates would be frozen for the next year and he estimates that this duty freeze will cost the Exchequer between £190 and £210 million a year from 2020/21.

“Confirmation that the wider Alcohol Duty Review is expected in September is welcome,” said the BBPA’s Chief Executive Emma McClarkin, who confirmed that the BBPA will be responding to the review.

“Now we’ve left the EU, we have the opportunity to level the playing field compared with other major beer-producing countries,” she stated, “Especially as we pay 11 times more beer duty than Germany or Spain.”