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* UK announces simplification of alcohol duties
* Planned increase in alcohol taxes scrapped
* Pub company shares rise
(Adds details)
By Andrew MacAskill
LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - British finance minister Rishi
Sunak announced what he called the biggest cut in taxes on beer
in decades and the most radical simplification of alcohol duties
in over a century in a boost to pubs as they struggle to recover
from the coronavirus pandemic.
In his budget statement, Sunak said the current system of
alcohol taxes, which dates back to 1643, was outdated and too
complicated as he outlined a new principle, which will see some
stronger drinks become more expensive.
Sunak told parliament that a planned increase in taxes on
spirits, wine, cider, and beer will be cancelled from Thursday.
The freeze in alcohol taxes and the simplification of duties
will lower taxes by between 565 million and 775 million pounds a
year.
"Our reforms make the alcohol duty system simpler, fairer
and healthier," Sunak said.
The cuts will spare voters another hit to their income at a
time when inflation is the highest in almost a decade and some
people have suffered lower wages as businesses were forced to
close last year during the pandemic.
Pubs in Britain have faced some of the strictest
restrictions of any industry during the pandemic, including
months of mandatory closures, curfews, and a requirement that
drinkers only be served if they have ordered a substantial meal.
Shares in pub operators were boosted by the tax changes,
with JD Wetherspoon, Mitchells and Butlers and
Marston's all trading up more than 5%.
In a measure he said would help pubs struggling because of
the effect of the pandemic, Sunak announced "draught relief",
cutting the tax on drinks served from pumps with the average
cost of a pint falling by 3 pence.
Sunak said this would result in the biggest beer tax cut in
50 years and the biggest cut on cider duty since 1923.
The number of alcohol duties rates will be cut from 15 to
six as part of the changes.
The new taxes based on the strength of the drink will see
duties increase on some higher alcohol products, such as some
red wine and white ciders.
However, consumers of some lower-strength products, such as
fruit ciders, liqueurs, beers and wines will pay less.
($1 = 0.7272 pounds)
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Kate Holton, William
Maclean)
