PHIL YOUR GLASSES
Budget 2017 – Price of pint of beer, wine and spirits FROZEN but cigarettes and tobacco to rise
The Chancellor today announced a freeze on duty prices for beers, wine and spirits - but a pack of 20 cigarettes will rise by 28p
DRINKERS have been given a gift in today's Budget as the Chancellor Philip Hammond announced duty will be frozen on beer, wine and spirits.
Smokers will have to 28p more for a pack of 20 cigarettes, pushing up the price of a premium pack of fags to £10.80
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While an average pack of fags, such as Lambert & Butler, will go up to £9.30.
The changes take effect from 6pm tonight.
This is because the Chancellor announced a rise of two per cent above inflation.
Hand rolling tobacco will also increase by an extra per cent.
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The tobacco industry last week voiced concerns that the Chancellor would use the Budget to increase the amount of tax raised from sales of tobacco.
The Chancellor pushed up a pack of 20 by 35p in the last budget and the industry has also been hit by other hikes.
As a result, the average cost of a premium pack of 20 cigarettes now stands at £9.91 in the UK, according to the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association (TMA).
The TMA now estimates the Government could push the price of a pack of 20 above £10.
In March, the Chancellor promised to increase fuel duty in line with inflation or 3.9 per cent.
Budget Day 2017: Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond announces that he will abolish stamp duty for all first time home buyers up to £300,000
MORE BUDGET NEWS
The first hike in five years has seen an increased strain on local pubs - with wine up by 8p, vodka up by 40p and gin by 43p.
Britain's alcohol is among the most heavily taxed in the world - with the third highest duty rate for wine, and fourth-highest for spirits.
Pubs across the UK have still been closing at the rate of 23 a year, despite years of tax cuts and freezes under George Osborne.
Budget 2017: Key points at a glance
CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond has delivered his second Budget as Chancellor. Here are the key points:
- Stamp Duty: Stamp duty to be abolished immediately for first-time buyers purchasing properties worth up to £300,000.
- Living Wage: The National Living Wage will rise from £7.50 to £7.83 for those aged 25 and over from April.
- Diesel cars: New £500 diesel road tax from April next year.
- Booze: Duty on beer, wine, spirits and most ciders has been frozen.
- Plastic Plan: Takeaway boxes and bubble wrap are to be taxed in an attempt to tackle the growing usage of single-use plastics.
- Crackdown on tech giants: Tech giants like Apple, Google and Spotify may have to pay tax on royalty payments.
- New railcard for under 30s: Hammond confirmed a new railcard for 16-30 year-olds which will give a third off fares.
These Chancellors drank their way through their budget speeches
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