The Drinks Business reports that provisional HM Revenue & Customs figures show UK Alcohol Duty receipts are down 4% year on year in the 2025 to 2026 financial year to date, totalling £7,010 million, £285 million less than the same period last year, despite repeated duty upratings and ahead of a further RPI linked increase from February 2026. Most categories are lower, wine and other fermented products are down £100 million to £2.58 billion, spirits show the sharpest drop, down £156 million to £2.15 billion, and beer is down £59 million to £2.09 billion, while cider rises £30 million to £175 million but remains a small share of annual receipts.