A number of beer changes will come into force in 2026 after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed prices will rise.
In her November Budget, Ms Reeves confirmed that alcohol duty will climb in accordance with inflation rates – from February.
Typically, these increases align with the Retail Price Index from September, which stood at 4.5% this year.
The alcohol duty adjustment will take effect on February 1st using the RPI rate.
Just before the Budget, a leading brewery announced that one of its flagship lagers would see its alcohol strength reduced, also from February, as reported by the Mirror.
Heineken UK will lower the alcohol by volume (ABV) of Foster’s lager to 3.4%, capitalising on duty cuts for lower-strength beverages.
Currently produced at 3.7%, this alteration also targets consumers choosing reduced ABV options for wellness reasons.
A Heineken UK representative said: “The decision to adjust the ABV of Foster’s reflects our commitment to helping consumers make responsible choices, while supporting pubs and retailers with a competitively priced classic lager alongside a portfolio of brands across the price and ABV spectrum.
“Our master brewers have spent many months refining the recipe to ensure the taste remains unmistakably Foster’s – crisp, balanced and refreshing.”
The representative added that the reformulated Foster’s has been subjected to “extensive consumer testing” and “delivers the same great taste and experience”. Earlier this year, Heineken also reduced the ABV of its Mexican beer brand Sol to 3.4%.
The current duty payable per litre of alcohol is set at £9.61 for 1.3-3.4%. This figure jumps to £21.01 per litre for beers with an ABV of 3.5-8.4%.
This charge is levied per litre of alcohol, not per litre of the product.
