Autumn Budget 2025: Protect Public Health by Raising Alcohol Duty

The Autumn Budget will take place on Wednesday 26 November 2025, setting out the government’s plans for taxes and spending, including alcohol duty. This is a crucial opportunity for the government to take action to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.

Evidence shows that when alcohol becomes less ‘affordable’ people drink less, and there are fewer deaths, injuries, and illnesses linked to alcohol – and less pressure on the NHS. Drinks producers often lower drink strength to avoid tax, meaning consumers get healthier options, without taking anything away.

New analysis shows that by introducing a duty escalator on non-draught alcohol ...

The Autumn Budget will take place on Wednesday 26 November 2025, setting out the government’s plans for taxes and spending, including alcohol duty. This is a crucial opportunity for the government to take action to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.

Evidence shows that when alcohol becomes less ‘affordable’ people drink less, and there are fewer deaths, injuries, and illnesses linked to alcohol – and less pressure on the NHS. Drinks producers often lower drink strength to avoid tax, meaning consumers get healthier options, without taking anything away.

New analysis shows that by introducing a duty escalator on non-draught alcohol (alcohol sold in bottles, cans or containers – primarily bought in supermarkets), the government could generate £3.4 billion over the next five years.

That’s enough to fund and sustain the salaries of:
• 37,000 NHS nurses, or
• 37,000 police officers, or
• 35,000 teachers, or
• 30,000 firefighters.

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Email The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Dan Tomlinson.

Raising alcohol duty is proven to reduce alcohol harm, and despite common misconceptions, it is not a tax on pubs. We support draught relief, which helps pubs, restaurants, and bars by keeping their tax rates lower and creating a fairer playing field with cheaper, non-draught products sold in shops and supermarkets.

That’s why it’s so important that we make our voices heard by writing to the Exchequer Secretary and calling for a Budget that puts public health first while supporting the hospitality industry.

At a time when every pound counts, the government should ensure the alcohol industry - which continues to make ever bigger profits annually - pays its fair share towards the cost of alcohol harm, just as the tobacco industry is expected to do. It’s time to hold alcohol producers to the same standard of responsibility.

We’ve included some suggested wording to help you, but please feel free to edit the message to add your own perspective/story if you feel comfortable to do so.

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Dear Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury,

I am writing to urge action in the Autumn Budget 2025 to create a fairer alcohol duty system that protects public health, supports the economy and the hospitality industry.

Evidence from a new report published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), commissioned by Alcohol Change UK, shows that raising alcohol duty is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to reduce harm, improve productivity, and raise more funds for our frontline services. This is also recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Alcohol harm doesn’t stop at health. It also affects our workplaces and the wider economy. The IPPR report shows the negative impact that alcohol harm has on our economy. It found that:

• 1 in 3 people called in sick last year after work-related drinking events.
• Heavy drinkers (aged 21 - 64) are 3.1 times more likely to experience presenteeism, where you’re physically at work but less productive.
• Alcohol harm has become a national productivity issue and fixing it would boost our economy and benefit us all.

This is why I support Alcohol Change UK’s Autumn Budget recommendation to:

1. Reintroduce the Alcohol Duty Escalator – uprate alcohol duty each year by 2% above inflation until the revenue raised matches the cost of alcohol harm.
2. Lower the threshold for higher tax rates – apply higher duty rates from 6.5% ABV instead of the current 8.5%, ensuring stronger drinks pay a fairer rate.
3. End ‘cider exceptionalism’ – bring cider duty in line with other drinks of the same strength.

These measures would also protect moderate drinkers and the hospitality industry, including pubs, while tackling alcohol harm across the country.

As you know, alcohol duty is paid by producers and importers, not pubs. Freezing it only benefits supermarkets, as it would encourage at-home drinking, drawing people away from pubs. So, I urge you to consider these points when making your decision.

Please use the Autumn Budget to ensure the alcohol industry contributes its fair share and covers the costs of harm, as the tobacco industry does. A smarter duty system will benefit our economy, public services, and communities.

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