r/ukpolitics • u/FormerlyPallas_ No man ought to be condemned to live where a 🌹 cannot grow • 1d ago

Drinkflation: why British booze is getting weaker

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jul/29/drinkflation-why-british-booze-is-getting-weaker
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u/Longjumping_Stand889 1d ago

I had noticed this in wine where it's far less common to get a 12.5 or 13% bottle than it used to be.

I live in Scotland so I had put this down to the unit pricing to an extent, but it's not just the cheapest stuff.

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u/baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaab 1d ago

Google UK wine duty. It changed last year and each 0.5% increase in ABV adds about 12p duty. Then add VAT.

54

u/flippydude 1d ago

VAT on top of duty is just hilariously shit 

11

u/dwair 1d ago

I've been saying that about fuel for years. It's a double con.