Budget increases price of wine by 12p a bottle

The 2011 Budget saw an increase in excise duty on wines, spirits and beers as the Chancellor proceeded with the tax escalator which automatically increases tax on alcohol by 2% above inflation. It means that in just three years in the UK, tax on wine has increased by around a quarter, with fortified wines up by a third. For drinkers the tax increase equates to 12p more for a 75cl bottle of wine, 54p more for a 70cl bottle of spirits and 4p on a pint of beer.