It’s safe to say that there wasn’t a great deal of exciting detail to extract from this year’s budget.
One thing that did catch headlines however, was the so-called “Sin Tax”- that is, tax levied on things that are quote-unquote “bad” for us, such as alcohol, cigarettes and the latest public enemy no. 1- sugar.
Philip Hammond announced the freezing of tax on wine, beer and spirits but raising the tax on cheap, high alcohol cider.
He said the move was to combat “excessive alcohol consumption by the most vulnerable people” and in recognising the “pressure on household budgets and backing our Great British pubs.”
Critics argue that the tax freeze will do little to encourage students and individuals on a low income to go to the pub to drink, as they can’t afford to pay pub prices anyway.
Whilst many will be rejoicing at the new Budget plans ahead of the festive season- there are still many questions to be asked.
Could England follow in Scotland’s footsteps and slap minimum pricing on alcohol?
Will the tax freeze really save British pubs and tackle binge drinking?
And what do Britain’s drinkers have to say about the Budget? I did a (sober) pub crawl around London to find out…
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