Alcohol Duty Escalator

Friday Thought

What changes can we expect from a Tory government?

10-Jul-2015 By Paul Chase

When told about a new government’s programme for change, an old judge once commented: “Change? Change? Aren’t things bad enough already?

WSTA honours George Osborne for duty cuts

30-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has formally thanked Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander for their support in abolishing the alcohol duty escalator in the 2014 Budget.

Alcohol sales fall but value remains flat as customers increasingly ‘trade up’

17-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Total alcohol sales fell by 3% in the last year but value remained flat as customers drank less but increasingly opted for premium products, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Budget 2014: Chancellor scraps alcohol duty escalator and announces 1p cut for beer

19-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

The 2014 Budget has brought some cheer for the pub industry with the scrapping of the alcohol duty escalator and a 1p cut for beer.

Budget 2014: Reaction from the pub trade

19-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

Trade leaders and bodies have been responding to George Osborne's budget, in which he announced a 1p a pint cut in beer duty for the second year running.

Value of wines and spirits to pubs set to grow

18-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

The value of wines and spirits to the UK on-trade is set to increase over the coming years as new outlets sell a greater proportion of these products, new research shows.

Drinks brands issue final call for Osborne to scrap duty escalators in Budget

18-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Drinks brands have issued a final call urging Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne MP to scrap the beer and alcohol duty escalators ahead of his Budget announcement tomorrow.

Britons call on Government to end alcohol duty hikes in Budget

17-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

More than three quarters (78%) of the British public believe that pubs are important for community spirit and are calling on the Government to end duty hikes so they can continue visiting their local.

Trade rallying cry for final push to scrap Alcohol Duty Escalator

20-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has issued a rallying cry for the trade to work together and persuade the Chancellor to cut duty on wine and spirits at next month’s Budget.

Why the Alcohol Duty Escalator needs to be scrapped

27-Jan-2014 By Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Wine and Spirit group, explains why he is calling for an end to the Alcohol Duty Escalator.

New campaign officially launched to end 'alcohol super tax'

17-Jan-2014 By Lewis Brown

A new campaign has been officially launched to end the alcohol 'super tax', known as the alcohol duty escalator, at a parliamentary reception hosted by Priti Patel MP.   

New campaign launched to scrap alcohol duty escalator

17-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

A new campaign has today (December 18) been launched to call time on the Government’s alcohol duty escalator and provide greater relief to struggling pubs.

WSTA to lobby for alcohol duty escalator scrap before next Budget

25-Sep-2013 By Robyn Black

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has said it aims to persuade the Government to get rid of the alcohol duty escalator in the next Budget.

Aspall's to cut the alcohol in its Perronelle’s Blush cider

04-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

Aspall is dropping the ABV of its Perronelle’s Blush cider from 5.4% to 4%.

Government explains why beer duty cut does not break EU rules

01-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Treasury minister Sajid Javid has explained why the Government’s decision to reduce duty on beer but not other alcoholic drinks would not breach EU rules.

Scrap beer duty escalator campaign needs consumer support, says TaxPayers' Alliance

26-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Consumers will be able to drive MPs to show support of scrapping the beer duty escalator at next month’s Budget.

Black Sheep disappointed at Budget ‘double whammy’

26-Mar-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Jo Theakston, marketing director at Black Sheep Brewery, estimated that the business will have to pay an extra £400,000 in duty — last year it paid £7.5m on a turnover of £19m.

Budget 2011: Duty escalator to stay

23-Mar-2011 By James Wilmore

Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed in today's Budget the alcohol duty escalator will stay - meaning the price of a pint will rise by around 4p....

Diageo: freeze duty on spirits only

31-Aug-2010 By John Harrington

Diageo has called for spirits duty to be frozen — but the alcohol duty escalator on other drinks to remain until they are taxed at the same rate....

Tory pub fan to push for scrapping of duty escalator

12-May-2010 By James Wilmore

A pub-supporting Conservative MP says he will be urging George Osborne to scrap the alcohol duty escalator and introduce a fairer tax system on cask...

Duty escalator is extended until 2015

24-Mar-2010 By James Wilmore

The government has extended its controversial alcohol duty escalator until 2015, it has emerged in today's Budget. Chancellor Alistair Darling...

ALMR: closed pubs can't pay taxes

04-Mar-2009 By Ewan Turney

The Government could be £217m worse off because its inflation busting duty hikes have shut so many pubs. The warning comes from the Association of...

75,000 jobs at risk over duty escalator

25-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney

Over 75,000 drinks industry jobs will be at risk over the next four years if the Government refuses to drop its controversial alcohol duty escalator...

More pub openings can help government raise cash

20-Nov-2008 By Matt Eley Matt

Encouraging more pubs to open will bring in as much revenue for the government as increasing alcohol tax, according to a leading trade body. Since...

Pub industry not Darling's 'piggy bank'

20-Nov-2008 By Ewan Turney

The pub industry is not a piggy bank to be raided every time the Chancellor can't make his sums add up — that's the message from the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) prior to Monday's pre-budget report.

Treasury rejects attempt to reassess escalator duty

22-May-2008 By Ewan Turney ewan.turney@william-reed.co.uk

Tabled amendment to Finance Bill falls on deaf Government ears An attempt to get the Government to explain its true motives behind the alcohol duty...

'Scrap alcohol duty escalator'

12-May-2008 By John Harrington

Lib Dems push for the alcohol duty escalator to be scrapped