United Kingdom - Spirits, Liqueurs And Other Spirituous Beverages - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: Jun 1, 2025

United Kingdom - Spirits, Liqueurs And Other Spirituous Beverages - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

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Jan 31, 2025

UK Alcohol Tax Hikes Poised to Hit Industry Hard

The UK's alcohol sector is bracing for significant tax increases starting from February 1, as it continues to struggle with the lingering effects of the pandemic and evolving consumer preferences. According to a detailed report from Euronews, the alcohol duty will rise in line with inflation, affecting the prices of spirits and wine (source). This development adds another layer of complexity for an industry already grappling with increased drinking at home and a shift towards healthier, lower-alcohol lifestyles.

Under the new tax regime, which accounts for the strength and alcohol content of drinks, taxes on a bottle of gin are set to increase by £0.32 (€0.38). Similarly, wines with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 14.5% will see a tax rise of £0.54 (€0.65). This hike is expected to have a profound impact on the UK's pub and hospitality sectors, which are still recovering from the pandemic-induced downturn.

Compounding the situation, these sectors face further financial pressure from April onwards due to the new waste packaging recycling fees outlined in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy. These fees will add an estimated £0.12 (€0.14) to wine bottles and £0.18 (€0.22) to spirit bottles. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has criticized the government's approach, arguing that high tax rates help neither businesses nor the Treasury as they ultimately lead to decreased sales and profits across the board.

The introduction of draught relief and increased small producer relief (SPR) provides some respite. Effective from February 1, these measures reduce taxes on draught products and assist smaller producers. Collectively worth around £85 million (€101.67 million), these initiatives are expected to foster growth within the sector. The draught relief offers a 1.7% tax decrease on draught alcohol with an ABV below 8.5%.

Despite these relief measures, industry leaders like Cambridge Wine Merchants co-founder Hal Wilson remain skeptical, noting the burdensome complexity of adhering to precise ABV tax requirements. Meanwhile, the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has noted the potential for growth these schemes might support, although market access remains a critical barrier for expanding small breweries.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the spirits and liqueurs market in the UK. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • Prodcom 11011020 - Spirits obtained from distilled grape wine or grape marc (important: excluding alcohol duty)
  • Prodcom 11011030 - Whisky (important: excluding alcohol duty)
  • Prodcom 11011040 - Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugarcane products (important: excluding alcohol duty)
  • Prodcom 11011050 - Gin and geneva (important: excluding alcohol duty)
  • Prodcom 11011063 - Vodka of an alcoholic strength by volume of . .45,4 % (important: excluding alcohol duty)
  • Prodcom 11011065 - Spirits distilled from fruit (excluding liqueurs, gin, geneva, g rape wine or grape marc (important: excluding alcohol duty))
  • Prodcom 11011070 - Pure alcohols (important: excluding alcohol duty)
  • Prodcom 11011080 - Spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages (excluding spirits distilled from grape wine, grape marc or fruit/whisky, r um, tafia, gin and geneva, spirits distilled from fruit)

Country coverage:

  • United Kingdom

Data coverage:

  • Market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Trade (exports and imports) in the UK
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDSThis Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    10. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    10. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    11. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    12. Exports and Growth, By Product
    13. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    14. Production Volume and Growth
    15. Exports and Growth
    16. Export Prices and Growth
    17. Market Size and Growth
    18. Per Capita Consumption
    19. Imports and Growth
    20. Import Prices
    21. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    22. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    24. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    28. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    30. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    34. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024

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