Budget 2015: third consecutive alcohol duty cut despite health group warnings

Alcohol duty was again cut in the 2015 budget, winning praise from sections of the alcohol industry but to the dismay of health groups.

The Chancellor George Osborne cut beer duty by one penny on the pint for the third year running, and a 2% cut for spirits and most ciders. Wine duty is unchanged.

A number of alcohol industry groups have continued to call for further cuts to alcohol duty, with a specific 'Drop the duty' campaign spearheaded by the Wine and Spirits Trade Association and Scotch Whisky Association.

Speaking in the House of Commons today Osborne said he had dropped duty thanks to the "persistent campaigning of my honourable friends", referring to a number of Conservative MPs lobbying for cuts to alcohol duty. 

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association said the Chancellor had "listened to consumers, publicans and brewers", and that the move would boost employment by 3,800. 

However Alcohol Concern's Jackie Ballard said the government had "once again cast aside the health of the nation to protect the interests of 'big alcohol". The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) had warned against a further cut in its pre budget briefing paper Our NHS can't afford for alcohol to get any cheaper. However AHA representatives were reportedly denied meetings with health ministers to discuss the potential impact of alcohol duty cuts on the NHS.

The cut is also likely to reduce the already very limited impact of the 'below cost ban' , which is based on the rate of duty paid + VAT. Last year's budget ended the alcohol duty escalator which had seen alcohol duty rise 2% above inflation since 2008.

Alcohol pricing is considered a key policy issue by health groups given the close correlation between consumption and affordability. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has previously called on taxation to be used as a lever to reduce alcohol harms, although highlighted problems with EU laws which do not structure alcohol at an equivalent rate per unit - an area a recent Lords report also called for reform on.