Campaign group Wine Drinkers UK and the WSTA urged the government to reduce wine tax at the Chancellor’s Budget on 11 March, due to potential impact on around 10 million UK customers.

The average price of a wine bottle in the UK could break the £6 mark this year for the first time on record, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Wine expert Joe Fattorini said: “It’s time for a fairer deal for the 33 million wine drinkers in the UK. Too many people still think wine is enjoyed by ‘wealthy’ or ‘posh’ people meaning price rises aren’t a problem, but that clearly isn’t the case.

“If the average price for a bottle of wine tips over the £6 mark as is predicted, we risk freezing out millions of hard-working people from a drink that they enjoy.

“The new Government has an opportunity to cut wine duty for the first time in over 35 years and give those people a break. I think it’s high time they did so.”

Last month, WSTA  urged the UK Chancellor to cut wine and spirit duty by 2% in the upcoming budget and sent its budget submission to the Treasury.

WSTA notes that a duty freeze in the 2017 budget resulted in a bumper tax windfall for the Treasury. The decision was beneficial for consumers as well as businesses in the UK.