Increase in excise duty ‘threatens survival’ of off-licences

Some six out of 10 off-licences may be forced to close if excise duties are increased in the next budget, a representative body has claimed.

The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) also criticised the Government for failing to meet its commitment to legislate on alcohol consumption.

The long-awaited Public Health (Alcohol) Bill — based on the findings of a 2012 expert group — has still not been published.