Budget Resolution No. 64: Rates of alcohol duty

**What happened:** On 2 December 2025, the House of Commons voted to approve Budget Resolution No. 64, which sets the rates of alcohol duty following the government's autumn Budget. The resolution passed by 357 votes to 174. The measure confirms changes to the taxation applied to beer, wine, spirits, and other alcoholic drinks sold in the United Kingdom. **Why it matters:** Alcohol duty rates directly affect the price of drinks for consumers and the costs faced by pubs, bars, restaurants, and retailers. By approving this resolution, Parliament has endorsed the government's chosen tax levels on alcohol, which form part of the broader fiscal package announced in the Budget. Higher duty rates can generate revenue for public services and are often framed as supporting public health objectives, while lower rates or freezes are typically favoured by the hospitality industry and those concerned about the cost of living. **The politics:** The vote divided sharply along party lines. Labour and Labour Co-operative MPs provided the overwhelming majority of the 357 ayes, with five independents and three Green MPs also voting in favour. The 174 noes came from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Reform UK, the DUP, Plaid Cymru, and three independents. There was one Labour no vote, indicating near-total discipline on the government side. The vote reflects a pattern seen in other recent Budget-related divisions, where the opposition has united against government fiscal measures but lacked the numbers to defeat them.