Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 October regarding the changes to alcohol duty (HC Deb col 396), what steps they are taking to protect the alcohol industry given the increased cost of living.

On 17 October, the Chancellor announced a reversal of the freeze of alcohol duty rates from 1 February 2023, initially announced in the Growth Plan on 23 September.

The Government understands that many businesses are worried about the rising cost of living, including businesses within the alcohol industry. The alcohol duty uprating decision and interactions with the wider reforms to alcohol duties will be considered in due course.