Overview

• Wine faces a 9p per bottle uplift, 330ml beer about 4p, and spirits roughly 11p as the weight-based levy comes into force across the UK.
• More than 80% of the scheme’s costs are likely to be passed on to consumers, according to a British Retail Consortium survey published as the policy starts.
• About 85% of retailers report a significant increase in administrative and compliance workload tied to detailed packaging reporting requirements.
• The Bank of England estimates the policy will add around 0.5 percentage points to food inflation, reinforcing concerns over household budgets.
• Industry groups warn the weight-based design disadvantages glass; Encirc urges a pause, while the BRC seeks legal ring-fencing of funds that the Local Government Associationpposes.