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Labour has been accused of attacking Britain’s pubs and punters after plans to put up “sin taxes” drew criticism from industry bosses.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly eying a tax hike on booze, betting and junk food in her autumn budget raid, as she tries to plug a £20bn black hole.

But industry bosses, economists and critics, have warned the cash-grab could backfire, slashing revenues, and driving community boozers to the wall.

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith thundered: “The last thing our pubs, brewers and hospitality businesses need is another hike in taxes from this Government. This sector has already been hammered by Labour’s economic incompetency and Rachel Reeves’ Jobs Tax.

“The Government should be supporting working people, not punishing them. The Conservatives will continue to stand up for the makers of this country and oppose tax rises that threaten jobs, economic growth and local communities.”

City AM, a newspaper in London, reported that the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has repeatedly admitted it has overestimated takings from “sin taxes” such as fuel and alcohol.

And in July the watchdog said duties were “overestimated at each forecast” between 2022 and 2023.

The Scotch Whiskey Association revealed the Treasury raked in a massive £676 million less than the OBR promised last year, a huge shortfall.

Adam Hoffer of the US Tax Foundation told City AM: “This leads to often predictable overestimates of tax revenue from both new excise taxes and increased rates on existing excise taxes… Poorly designed excise taxes are likely to create problems, including a volatile revenue source that misses revenue projections.”

That means that the “sin tax” raid may not raise the money the Chancellor is banking on.

From Scotch whisky to local pubs, industry chiefs are begging ministers to rule out the raid.

A spokesperson for Treasury Wine Estates, who make the 19 Crimes and Penfolds brands of wine, told the Daily Express: “With community pubs and restaurants already under pressure from recent National Insurance hikes, Treasury Wines Estates urges the Chancellor to choose stability: freeze alcohol duty and focus on a plan to keep prices fair, sustain employment and deliver reliable, long-term revenues.

“We are proud to play a key role in supporting the UK’s hospitality, retail and across the supply chain. We welcome the opportunity to continue working with the Government on plans that preserve jobs and support industry growth.”

As reported in City AM, Scotch Whisky Association boss Mark Kent has also demanded a “multi-year freeze” in duties, blasting the current “unequal alcohol duty system” and warning that a 10 per cent slump in spirits revenue last year shows the dangers of squeezing the sector.

A government spokesman, however, said they where introducing a raft of changes to help pubs saying they “are vital to local communities, that’s why we’re cutting the cost of licensing, helping more pubs, cafes and restaurants offer pavement drinks and al fresco dining, and extending business rates relief for these businesses – on top of cutting alcohol duty on draught pints and capping corporation tax.”