Drinkers will be raising a glass after the Chancellor froze duty in Wednesday’s autumn statement. Jeremy Hunt said there would be no change to the price of a pint.
Mr Hunt reaffirmed the Government’s Brexit Pubs Guarantee, which means the amount of duty – tax – on alcohol will be lower in pubs than in shops. He confirmed that there would be no change to duty until next year.
He told the House of Commons: “As well as confirming our Brexit Pubs Guarantee, which means duty on a pint is always lower than in the shops, I have decided to freeze all alcohol duty until August 1 next year. That means no increase in duty on beer, cider, wine or spirits.”
In other areas, Mr Hunt said Universal Credit and other benefits would increase by 6.7%, in line with September’s inflation figure, ending speculation the Government could have used the cheaper October figure. Mr Hunt also confirmed the triple-lock formula for state pension rises would be implemented as usual, meaning the state pension will rise by 8.5% in line with average earnings, worth up to £900 more a year.
He said: “After a global pandemic and energy crisis, we have taken difficult decisions to put our economy back on track. We have supported families with rising bills, cut borrowing and halved inflation.
“Rather than a recession, the economy has grown. Rather than falling as predicted, real incomes have risen. Our plan for the British economy is working. But the work is not done.”
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