UK Alcohol Duty

During the Autumn Budget (26 November 2025), Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed alcohol duty will continue to rise in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation, maintaining the structure introduced in February 2025.

Key points:

  • From 1 February 2026, all alcohol duty rates will increase by 4.3%, based on the latest RPI figure.
  • The tiered duty system remains in place: wine and other products are taxed by alcohol by volume (ABV), with incremental increases every 0.5% ABV.
  • No reinstatement of the previous “wine easement” – wines will continue to be taxed according to actual ABV.
  • Small Producer Relief will also be uprated to maintain its relative value.

Indicative impact on wine pricing (WSTA modelling):

  • A 13.5% ABV bottle of wine will rise by approximately 11p.
  • A 11% ABV bottle will increase by around 9p.
  • Higher ABV wines will see proportionally greater increases.

Wine % ABVDuty per bottle from Feb 2025Duty per bottle from Feb 2026Difference
per bottle
8.5£1.88£1.95£0.07
9.0£1.99£2.07£0.08
9.5£2.10£2.18£0.08
10.0£2.22£2.30£0.08
10.5£2.33£2.41£0.08
11.0£2.44£2.53£0.09
11.5£2.55£2.64£0.09
12.0£2.66£2.76£0.10
12.5£2.77£2.87£0.10
13.0£2.88£2.99£0.11
13.5£2.99£3.10£0.11
14.0£3.10£3.22£0.12
14.5£3.21£3.33£0.12
15.0£3.32£3.44£0.12

Government Website Resources:
Further information on Alcohol Duty can be found online at *https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-rates-of-alcohol-duty/alcohol-duty-uprating
*https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-rates-of-alcohol-duty