§ As I have resisted the temptation to put something more on smokes, I now fall 405 back on drink. The taxes on alcohol have remained substantially unchanged since 1943. I now propose to increase them as follows. The duties on whisky, rum and other spirits will be raised by £1 13s. 4d. a proof gallon. This means that the price of a bottle of whisky of standard brand bought outside the black market will go up to about 30s.
§ Mr. GallacherIs that all.
§ Mr. Kirkwood (Dumbarton Burghs)Not half enough.
§ Mr. DaltonOn wines as on spirits, the Empire preferences will remain unchanged. The duties on heavy wines will be raised by 10s. a gallon. This will mean an increase of about Is. 8d. a bottle. The duties on light wines will go up by 5s. a gallon—that is, an average increase of about 10d. a bottle. The duties on British wines will rise correspondingly, by 10s. a gallon on the heavy, and 5s. on the lighter, types.
Then we come to beer. I propose to raise the duties on beer by the equivalent of 1d. a pint on beer of average latter-day strength, and proportionately more on stronger brews—if any there still be or, if you prefer to put it the other way, on beer which is less weak—on beer which, to quote my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. Glanville), is just not too weak to run out of the glass. The rates of duty will be raised by 19s. 1½d. a barrel on beer of a gravity of 1,027 degrees, and 8½ d. a barrel for each additional degree. In fixing these rates I have had in mind the many difficulties which the retailer has to overcome in maintaining his standard of service to the public in face of rising costs and other handicaps. On the average, the proposal I am making will enable the retailer's margin to be increased by about a halfpenny a gallon or Is. 4d. a barrel. These changes in respect of spirits, wine and beer will come into effect from tomorrow, and should produce an additional £56 million in a full year and £18 million this year.