Jeremy Hunt may target alcohol duties in the Budget

Mr Hunt overturned Mr Kwarteng’s decision in October 2022, but then performed a surprising U-Turn.

The Chancellor said the alcohol duty freeze would be extended by six months, and is therefore set to expire on August 1.

The Scotch Whisky Association has said “what was right in December, remains right for the March Budget”, in its call for “fair taxation”.

The association has said a freeze on spirits duty in the Budget would “lift struggling hospitality businesses, support consumers, and boost UK growth, jobs and investment”.

A survey by the UK Spirits Alliance (UKSA) recently showed more than half of distillers who responded said they had already hiked prices by up to 10 percent.