A PUB landlord said a tax rise on wines and spirits is another nail in the coffin for city pubs. 

Darren Yong, landlord of The King Charles House in New Street, has welcomed a freeze on beer duty but said the increase in price on other beverages is detrimental to the industry.

The increase will see duty rise by 44p on a bottle of wine, which, when combined with VAT, will mean consumers will pay an extra 53p, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

The Chancellor is cutting the duty charged on draught pints across the UK by 11p, effectively freezing or cutting the duty on beer poured from tap.

The new system aims to encourage drinkers to cut back by taxing all alcohol based on its strength, rather than the previous categories of wine, beer, spirits, and ciders.

However, Mr Yong said the move is counterproductive for pubs still trying to recover from the pandemic and rising costs.

Worcester News: WORRIES: Landlord Darren Yong outside King Charles House called the new duty hikes 'another nail in the coffin'WORRIES: Landlord Darren Yong outside King Charles House called the new duty hikes 'another nail in the coffin' (Image: King Charles House)

"We are aware of the new increase and are thankful for the freeze on beer duty.

"However, the duty increase on wine and the increase on spirits is detrimental to the industry as a whole," he said.

"The recovery from covid is still a real-time situation for the industry, and these increases just slow that recovery down.

"The cost of living issues mean we are not in any position to pass the price increases to our valued customers.

"So the industry just has to take it on the chin.

Worcester News:

"The VAT disparity, duty rises, the cost of running hospitality business being constantly on the rise, all make it a tough environment to operate in."

He added that pubs are the lifeblood of many communities and an institutional part of British culture but they are depleted due to current circumstances.

He fears the only way to deal with rising costs is through job cuts.

"Our job is to be the very best operators we can," he said. 

"So when customers have a choice to go to the pub, they choose one with great products, served in a wonderful environment by excellent people.

"We strive to achieve this every day to give ourselves the best chance of being successful."

Mr Sunak has insisted the reforms centre on “backing British pubs” and that businesses and consumers will benefit from the post-Brexit alcohol duty changes, despite the increases on wine, vodka and canned beer.