Alcohol Duty Rises in the UK From Today 1 February 2026 - Do We Move To Dry February

1st February 2026

From 1 February 2026, alcohol duty in the UK has officially increased, affecting beer, wine, spirits and cider. While the rise may seem modest on paper, it is expected to feed through to higher prices in supermarkets, bars and pubs over the coming weeks.

This change was not unexpected. It forms part of the government's longer-term approach to alcohol taxation, introduced in recent budgets, and is designed to ensure that duty keeps pace with inflation.

What changed today?

As of today, alcohol duty has risen by approximately 3.66%, in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation. The increase applies across all alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine and spirits, and reflects a policy decision announced in the Autumn Budget 2025.

Alcohol duty is paid by producers and importers rather than directly by consumers. However, industry groups have consistently warned that these higher costs are likely to be passed on, meaning shoppers and pub-goers will probably see higher prices.

How much more duty is being charged?

The exact increase depends on the type and strength of the drink, as the UK now taxes alcohol largely based on alcohol by volume (ABV) rather than drink category alone.

Wine (75cl bottles):

Lower-strength wines (around 8.5-10% ABV) now attract roughly 8-10 pence more duty per bottle

Typical mid-strength wines (around 11-14.5% ABV) see an increase of around 11–14 pence per bottle

Spirits (such as gin and whisky):

A standard 70cl bottle at around 37.5–40% ABV now carries about 38–39 pence more duty

Beer and cider:

Drinks above roughly 3.5% ABV are also affected, with duty rising in proportion to alcohol strength

The increase is calculated per litre of pure alcohol, so stronger beers attract more tax

What does this mean for prices in pubs and shops?

If the full duty rise is passed on to consumers, analysts estimate:

A standard pint of beer could cost around 2 pence more

A glass of wine could rise by approximately 3 pence

Supermarket prices may increase by several pence per bottle of wine and tens of pence on spirits

Retailers and pubs may not apply increases immediately or evenly, but over time the duty rise is expected to contribute to gradual price increases across the sector.

Why has alcohol duty gone up?

The key reason is inflation. The government has committed to uprating alcohol duty in line with inflation to prevent the real value of tax revenue from being eroded as prices rise across the economy.

This policy was confirmed in the November 2025 Autumn Budget and is part of a broader reform of alcohol taxation that began in August 2023, when the system shifted to taxing drinks more directly based on strength.

By linking duty to inflation:

The government protects public finances

Alcohol taxes rise predictably rather than through sudden large hikes

Stronger drinks are taxed more heavily than lower-strength alternatives

The bigger picture

While today's increase may only add a few pence to individual drinks, it comes at a time when households and hospitality businesses are already under pressure from rising costs. Industry bodies have warned that repeated inflation-linked increases could hit pubs particularly hard, while public health advocates argue that higher prices help reduce harmful drinking.

Time for Dry February?
For consumers, the immediate impact may be subtle — but over time, today's duty rise will contribute to the steadily increasing cost of drinking in the UK.

or many people, this is exactly the point where Dry February begins.

With alcohol duty rising today (1 February) and prices likely to edge up in pubs and shops, February often feels like a natural moment to pause after the excesses of Christmas and January. While Dry January gets most of the attention, Dry February is quietly growing in popularity — partly because it’s shorter, and partly because people feel more ready for a reset once the year is properly underway.

For some, Dry February is about:

Giving the liver a break after winter drinking

Saving money at a time when household costs are still tight

Resetting habits before spring socialising ramps up

Proving you don’t need a "named month" to take control

There’s no official campaign behind it, which actually makes it appealing: no fundraising targets, no rules, just a conscious choice to stop for 28 days (or 29 in leap years).