Duty on sparkling wine, and why it is now the same as still
What changed for sparkling wine in August 2023.
Before August 2023, sparkling wine paid more duty than still: £381.15 a hectolitre against £297.57 for wines of 8.5% to 15%, about 63p more on a 75cl bottle.
Since the reform, both are taxed on strength alone at the same rates, so a 12% sparkling wine now pays less duty than a 13.5% still one.
Wine duty rates
| ABV | From 1 Feb 2026 | From 1 Feb 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0% to 1.2% | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| 1.3% to 3.4% | £9.96 | £10.41 |
| 3.5% to 8.4% | £26.61 | £27.82 |
| 8.5% to 22.0% | £30.62 | £32.01 |
| Over 22.0% | £33.99 | £35.54 |
Per litre of pure alcohol. The 1 Feb 2027 rates were announced at the Budget on 28 October 2026, a rise of 4.5%.
Duty on a 75cl bottle
Still and sparkling wine pay the same.
| ABV | From 1 Feb 2026 | From 1 Feb 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5% | £1.10 | £1.15 | +5p |
| 9.0% | £2.07 | £2.16 | +9p |
| 10.5% | £2.41 | £2.52 | +11p |
| 11.0% | £2.53 | £2.64 | +11p |
| 11.5% | £2.64 | £2.76 | +12p |
| 12.0% | £2.76 | £2.88 | +12p |
| 12.5% | £2.87 | £3.00 | +13p |
| 13.0% | £2.99 | £3.12 | +13p |
| 13.5% | £3.10 | £3.24 | +14p |
| 14.0% | £3.22 | £3.36 | +14p |
| 14.5% | £3.33 | £3.48 | +15p |
| 15.0% | £3.44 | £3.60 | +16p |
Rates correct from 1 February 2026, checked against GOV.UK on 28 October 2026.
Work it out for your own wines
Duty at any strength and size, shelf prices for every channel, and how duty has changed since 2023.
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