Support for thousands of pubs

More than 38,000 pubs will benefit from the six-month freeze on alcohol duty from 1 February 2024. According to HM Treasury:

• The great British pub receives further boost from I February as a six-month alcohol duty freeze to 1 August 2024 takes effect.
• This tax saving will help support around 38,175 pubs to face rising costs.
• Duty freeze comes in addition to £4.3 billion in business rates cuts and duty protection for pints sold in pubs.

“British pubs are a significant part of the fabric of communities across the UK and a further freeze on alcohol duty will help to support the sector while the government continues to bring down inflation while driving growth and investment.

“This will impact around 38,175 pubs across the country and was announced as part of a multi-billion support package by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Autumn Statement which also included £4.3 billion business rates relief.

“The six-month duty freeze, from 1 February to 1 August 2024, follows the biggest reform of alcohol duties taking effect last August, where, for the first time in over 140 years the UK’s alcohol duty system simplified so the duty paid reflects the amount of alcohol in it.

These reforms cut duty on pints in pubs by up to 11p when compared to the same product sold in supermarkets. Not increasing alcohol duty in line with inflation has now saved a further 3p to the duty on a typical pint of beer, 2p to a pint of cider, 4p to a glass of whisky, or 18p to a bottle of wine.