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Rachel Reeves is being urged to scrap an extra tax on booze. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has warned Labour Party Chancellor Ms Reeves that implementing the anticipated 4.5 per cent RPI-linked duty increase would result in substantial price rises across alcoholic beverages.

The combined effect of these measures, along with VAT, means nearly £1 will have been added to the cost of a 14.5 per cent ABV wine bottle or a 37.5 per cent ABV gin bottle between January 2025 and the projected February 2026 duty implementation.

Miles Beale, the chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, stated: "We are calling on Rachel Reeves to stop pouring away Treasury funds and scrap crippling duty hikes.

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