On the face of it, yesterday’s budget seemed like good news for the drinks industry – especially for sparkling wine producers. Not only did chancellor Rishi Sunak freeze alcohol duty, he also set out plans to completely overhaul the tax system, including cutting the main duty bands from 15 to 6 and taxing alcohol based on its strength. And he said the duty premium for…

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has scrapped the planned duty increase on spirits, wine, cider and beer. The announcement was made in today’s Autumn Budget statement. The chancellor also outlined some major changes to alcohol taxation, set to come into effect in February 2023. In a nutshell, here’s what he said: The current system of alcohol taxation is outdated and “full of historical anomalies” The main duty…

The details of the Budget as revealed today by Chancellor Rishi Sunak are a “disappointment” to the nation’s struggling small breweries and their supply chain, according to the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). James Calder, SIBA’s chief executive said: “Today, the Chancellor spent an extraordinary amount of taxpayers money to help keep the economy moving and jobs protected, pledging almost £59 billion to policies including furlough…

In his Budget speech today the Chancellor has announced he is freezing all alcohol duty. The news follows repeated calls from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association and others in the industry to support the wine industry in particular, which was singled out for a duty increase in the last Budget. Responding to the news on Twitter, WSTA chief executive, Miles Beale, said: “All alcohol…

The WSTA has called on the Treasury to cut wine and spirit duty in the upcoming Budget, which it said would also “help boost the public purse”. The organisation said that by delivering a freeze to wine and spirits in 2017 the Treasury landed a bumper tax windfall and at the same time helped cash-strapped consumers and gave a boost to British businesses. But, it…

The WSTA has called upon the next Chancellor to cut the duty on wine after HMRC reported dwindling revenues from taxing the category. Its latest alcohol bulletin highlighted a 2.1% decrease in wine duty receipts for the first six months of the 2019/20 fiscal year. The Treasury received an additional 2.4% from beer and 1.7% from spirits in the six months to October 2019 after…

The Benevolent has raised more than £25,500 at its ‘Thanks for Giving’ online silent auction. The Drinks Industry Charity’s auction site featured around 70 ‘one-of-a-kind’ items, allowing participants to bid for a wide range of lots to suit every budget and taste. Popular options included a private box at The Royal Albert Hall to see Cirque Du Soleil, a Michelin Star Experience at The Harrow…