Today’s news that the alcohol duty reform has commenced and rates have increased has lacked a focus on how this impacts government finances. If you would like to include a statement relating to this, please see ours below:

“Cuts and freezes to alcohol duty have cost the public purse more than £8 billion over the past 10 years. We welcome the decision to increase most alcohol duties by inflation, which will raise revenue for vital public services.

“With alcohol deaths at their highest level on record, now is more important than ever to focus on improving health by tackling cheap alcohol. It’s high time the alcohol industry started paying its way towards the cost of alcohol harm.

“We urge the Government to continue to prioritise public health by keeping alcohol duty in line with inflation going forward.”

Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive, Institute of Alcohol Studies.