DESPITE a price freeze on a pint of beer, wine and spirits, smokers face paying over £10 for a packet of 20 cigarettes after 6pm tonight.

In Wednesday's Budget, the Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a two per cent rise above inflation would be added to cigarettes.

Hand rolling tobacco will rise by an additional one per cent.

This means a 20 pack of premium cigarettes will cost around £10.80.

Glasgow Times:

British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds tweeted: “Freezing beer duty is an early Christmas present for beer drinkers and pub goers worth over £100 million.

“Thank you Chancellor for listening to our campaign. Beer drinkers will raise a glass tonight.”

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) also welcomed the decision, describing it as a “show of support for a major UK manufacturing industry and its supply chain, and for the 40,000 jobs Scotch Whisky supports across the UK”.