Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the evidential basis is for how the proposals to reform alcohol taxation will support improved public health, in the context of the comparative number of units of alcohol in a (a) four per cent ABV pint of beer or cider and (b) a Scotch Whisky highball or in a gin and tonic.

The Government intends to move to a new progressive system of duty that taxes all products in reference to the litres of pure alcohol they contain, with products with higher concentration of alcohol paying a higher rate of duty per unit. As part of this approach, the Government is cutting duty on lower ABV spirits-based drinks, such as pre-packaged gin and tonics.

The Government received evidence supporting this approach during its call for evidence held in 2020. As set out in the summary of responses published in October 2021, public health groups cited the correlation between cheap, high strength spirits (such as vodka) and alcohol-related harms, as the volume of drink needed to reach intoxication is smaller with higher strength drinks. The Government has a responsibility to address these concerns.