LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - British finance minister Rishi
Sunak scrapped a planned increase in duty on alcohol worth about
3 billion pounds ($4 billion) and simplified taxes to help pubs
as they struggle to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
In his budget statement to parliament Sunak said alcohol
taxes will be based on the strength of the drink, with
high-strength wines and cider facing higher taxes, while
lower-strength beers will cost less.
"Our reforms make the alcohol duty system simpler, fairer
and healthier; they help with the cost of living while tackling
problem drinking," Sunak said.
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.
($1 = 0.7272 pounds)
(Reporting by David Milliken, writing by Andrew MacAskill;
Editing by Kate Holton)