Tackling alcohol smuggling: outputs – April 2018 to April 2024
Updated 26 September 2024
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Tackling alcohol fraud is an HMRC priority. The HMRC Alcohol Strategy was launched in April 2010 and refreshed in 2016.
Our aims for alcohol, working with other enforcement agencies and the alcohol industry, are to:
- promote good compliance - making it easier for businesses to pay the right duties
- prevent tax losses - making it harder to make mistakes or to deliberately cheat, including addressing regime vulnerabilities, and exploring technology solutions to prevent fraud
- respond to those who cheat - increasing the impact of enforcement
The tax gap is the difference between the amount of tax that should, in theory, be paid to HMRC, and what is actually paid. You can read about the tax gap for alcohol in 2022 to 2023
1. Alcohol inland seizures
April 2018 to March 2019
| Volume (Litres) | Duty (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 1,214,185 | 1,153,476 |
| Spirits | 50,312 | 672,168 |
| Wine | 355,947 | 1,231,577 |
| Total | 1,620,444 | 3,057,221 |
April 2019 to March 2020
| Volume (Litres) | Duty (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 844,944 | 802,697 |
| Spirits | 41,106 | 549,180 |
| Wine | 262,181 | 935,988 |
| Total | 1,148,232 | 2,287,865 |
April 2020 to March 2021
| Volume (Litres) | Duty (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 102,923 | 97,777 |
| Spirits | 174,213 | 2,327,486 |
| Wine | 11,270 | 40,234 |
| Total | 288,406 | 2,465,496 |
April 2021 to March 2022
| Volume (Litres) | Duty (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 759,699 | 721,714 |
| Spirits | 25,772 | 344,314 |
| Wine | 205,421 | 733,353 |
| Total | 990,892 | 1,799,381 |
April 2022 to March 2023
| Volume (Litres) | Duty (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 925,709 | 879,423 |
| Spirits | 128,930 | 1,722,504 |
| Wine | 109,691 | 392,560 |
| Total | 1,164,600 | 2,994,489 |
April 2023 to March 2024
| Volume (Litres) | Duty (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 843,759 | 801,571 |
| Spirits | 32,185 | 420,991 |
| Wine | 87,885 | 313,749 |
| Total | 963,829 | 1,536,310 |
2. Criminal enforcement
| Financial year | Number of arrests | Number of convictions |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 – 2019 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 – 2020 | 12 | 9 |
| 2020 – 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 – 2022 | 16 | 3 |
| 2022 – 2023 | 2 | 8 |
| 2023 – 2024 | 1 | 2 |
3. Alcohol Wholesalers Registration Scheme (AWRS)
| Date | Received | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 – 2019 | 1,632 | 1,114 |
| 2019 – 2020 | 1,589 | 1,195 |
| 2020 – 2021 | 1,902 | 1,336 |
| 2021 – 2022 | 1,751 | 1,392 |
| 2022 – 2023 | 1,409 | 1,022 |
| 2023 – 2024 | 1,372 | 1,203 |
Current trader population: 10,233
Help HMRC tackle alcohol fraud
To report any kind of fraud, smuggling or tax evasion you can contact HMRC with the information, in confidence.
Next update
These figures will be refreshed again in September 2025.