UK to pay highest wine tax in Europe

The UK has just moved to the top of Europe's wine tax league following a 3.66% hike in alcohol duty announced in the Budget. A bottle of full-bodied red wine will cost an extra 14p, with duty on 14.5% ABV wines now standing at £3.33, overtaking Finland's rate of £3.29. Industry bodies warn the increase will add further pressure to already squeezed pub and brewery profit margins, with a pint of beer expected to rise by around 2p as a result.