Today, distillers from across the UK converged on Westminster to urge the government to impose a real freeze on spirits duty during the upcoming Budget, warning that incremental rises—even those masked as freezes—will not suffice for an under-pressure industry.

Led by the recently formed All-Party Parliamentary Group on UK Spirits (APPG), established in July 2025, the delegation emphasised that only a genuine duty freeze can help protect the sector. As they stated: “anything else will not be enough to save an industry that is already on its knees.”

Carolyn Harris MP, chair of the APPG, underscored the urgency:
“We know that distillers across the country are having a really challenging time, and if we could do one single thing to help it would be a proper duty freeze.

That means a real freeze, and not an increase dressed up as a freeze in line with inflation.”

The Toll of Past Increases

Distillers highlighted how previous Budget moves have already undermined the sector:

The last Budget’s “freeze in line with inflation” effectively raised duty by 3.65%, building on a prior 10.1% hike imposed by the former Conservative government.

Voices from the Distilleries:

Producers across the UK conveyed their growing concern:

Kathy Caton MBE, founder and MD at Brighton Gin, said:
“Brighton Gin isn’t just a distillery; we help to grow the local economy, create skilled jobs, drive tourism and lead in sustainability whilst building a global reputation for quality. However, successive duty increases have not only led to our artisanal spirits being priced out of local pubs and restaurants, but they’re stifling potential growth.”

Karl and Cathy Mason, directors of Masons Gin, added:
“We are being hit from all sides. From National Insurance contributions to excise duty and sustainability requirements, our ability to grow our business is being stifled.”

Ben and Kate Marston, co-founders at Puddingstone Distillery, noted:
“As a local producer and small business owner, we have witnessed firsthand how punitive spirits duty rates have impacted our business and the entire supply chain – from the farmers growing our botanicals to the skilled craftspeople in our distillery.”

Laurence Conisbee, director of Wharf Distillery, reflected:
“As one of England’s smallest whisky distilleries, the team here at Wharf has felt the effects of a fundamentally broken duty system in full force. We are proud to stock our spirits in Northamptonshire and beyond, but the government continues to let us down with eye-watering duty increases, which exist as blockers to the UK’s most exciting potential growth sectors.”