Thank you for your email on the newly introduced alcohol duty. I completely understand your points and this is something I have been in close contact with the Minister about as I know many breweries and wineries in Meon Valley who this will affect.
These reforms on wine mean higher strength still wines will pay more duty, while lighter wines below 11.5 per cent alcohol by volume will become cheaper. I welcome that the 28 per cent higher duty rate on sparkling wine will be abolished, and that from 2023 sparkling and still wines of the same strength will pay the same duty. Wine producers were encouraged to respond to the alcohol review consultation before the deadline of 30 January 2022, and I expect that my colleagues at the Treasury will carefully consider all submissions made by our country's wine industry while they review the responses they have received. You can find more information on the review here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-new-alcohol-duty-system-consultation
I will continue to follow this issue closely.
