DRINKERS have been given a gift in today’s Budget as the Chancellor Philip Hammond announced duty will be frozen on beer, wine and spirits.
While an average pack of fags, such as Lambert & Butler, will go up to £9.30.
The changes take effect from 6pm tonight.
This is because the Chancellor announced a rise of two per cent above inflation.
Hand rolling tobacco will also increase by an extra per cent.
The tobacco industry last week voiced concerns that the Chancellor would use the Budget to increase the amount of tax raised from sales of tobacco.
The Chancellor pushed up a pack of 20 by 35p in the last budget and the industry has also been hit by other hikes.
As a result, the average cost of a premium pack of 20 cigarettes now stands at £9.91 in the UK, according to the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA).
The TMA now estimates the Government could push the price of a pack of 20 above £10.
In March, the Chancellor promised to increase fuel duty in line with inflation or 3.9 per cent.
The first hike in five years has seen an increased strain on local pubs – with wine up by 8p, vodka up by 40p and gin by 43p.
Britain’s alcohol is among the most heavily taxed in the world – with the third highest duty rate for wine, and fourth-highest for spirits.