Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's consultation on the new alcohol duty system, if he will take steps to ensure that winemakers from hotter climates who produce wines with a high alcohol content do not pay a higher rate of alcohol duty.

The Government set out at the Budget its proposal to tax all products, including wine, in line with their ABV content. This will consistently apply the principle that stronger products should pay higher amounts of duty. This means that sparkling wines and still wines below 11.5% ABV will pay less duty than now, while still and fortified wines above this level will pay more duty.

The consultation on the new alcohol duty system closed on 30 January. The Government is considering the feedback received from producers and will respond in due course.