Regulation of the price of alcohol is the most cost-effective tool used by governments to address alcohol-related harm, according to the World Health Organisation. Governments use three main methods to regulate the price of alcohol:
- Varying alcohol prices
- Varying alcohol taxes/duties
- Using Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP)
This page includes figures on alcohol pricing in the UK, the level of taxation for each beverage type, how the price of alcohol affects both the level of consumption and the level of various harms, and the impact of different policy measures on those consumption and harms, including evidence in several countries.
Resources available on this page:
- Frequently Asked Questions about 'Price', with infographics presenting the most up-to-date statistics on the subject
- Factsheets providing an in depth perspective on the subject of 'Price'
- Publications, Blogs, and News tagged 'Price' for further reading
Frequently Asked Questions

Publications (View all)
Blogs (View all)
Healthy life expectancy: why tackling alcohol is key
18th May 2022 | Dr Alison Giles
If the Government is serious about extending healthy life expectancy for all, it must get serious about tackling alcohol. With the Health Disparities White Paper being published soon, IAS’ Dr Alison Giles looks at what should be done. Read more »
2012’s Alcohol Strategy 10 years on: was the ‘GAS’ a lot of hot air?
24th March 2022 | Dr Sadie Boniface
Our Head of Research looks at 2012’s Alcohol Strategy a decade on, highlighting the Government’s inertia and failure to achieve the vast majority of what the strategy promised. Read more »
Under the influence: is the alcohol industry using the World Trade Organization to lobby against alcohol policies?
8th February 2022 | Dr Pepita Barlow
World Trade Organization member states regularly use alcohol industry arguments to prevent and delay the implementation of effective alcohol control policies. Here Dr Barlow explains the findings of her study. Read more »
News (View all)
On 27 October the Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the Government’s Autumn 2021 budget, which saw a big change to alcohol duties: from 2023 alcohol will be taxed based on its strength, so the stronger the alcohol the higher the tax. However, as many have said, the devil is in the detail. So what is the… Read more »
Chancellor Rishi Sunak keeps excise duties for all alcoholic beverages at the same level for a second consecutive year Read more »
Raising duties will provide a ‘double dividend’, letter says Read more »