Around three quarters of Conservative members support a freeze or cut on wine tax, according to YouGov research shared by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).  Announced as part of the Autumn Budget, the proposed tax changes would tax all alcohol by degree. All still wine over 11.5% abv would see a duty increase, and the WSTA estimates that “95% of the…

The Drinks Trust has added four new members to its charity Board of Trustees, each of them highly respected and experienced leaders in the drinks industry and drinks-led hospitality industry. They are Nicky Forrest, Katy Keating, Jillian MacLean MBE and Laura Willoughby MBE. Nicky Forrest has been at the forefront of drinks communications for over 20 years and is the managing director of Phipps Relations,…

The Portman Group, the social responsibility and regulatory body for alcohol in the UK, has welcomed two new members, C&C Group plc and Mark Anthony Brands International. They are the first new members to join in 2021, the year in which the Portman Group is also celebrating 25 years of its Code of Practice. This brings the total Group membership to fourteen. C&C Group is…

The Portman Group has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive, Matt Lambert who will take up his post from January 2021. Lambert has extensive experience in management and corporate affairs and is currently the chief executive of the Federation for Industry Sector, Skills and Standards. He has previously held senior roles at a number of large corporations including Microsoft and Betfair. This year…

The Drinks Trust has announced a new initiative, which aims to create connection and opportunity. The Drinks Community is a platform which is aimed at becoming the leading networking, upskilling, careers and vocations space for drinks people. It will help members grow and develop in their careers by offering access to both inspirational and practical advice, which will be delivered alongside vocational materials, networking opportunities,…

Virtual crocheting, Zoom pilates and online museum tours are things we swiftly came to expect from 2020 and there appear to be no limits to the activities consumers can access via a screen. In the drinks world the biggest events of 2020 were all crossed off the calendar in quick succession and the traditional format of networking, tasting and presenting new products became defunct, seemingly…

The Wine Society is now open again to new members. The online retailer temporarily closed at the end of March and then it reopened but only selling full cases of six or 12 to existing members. It can now offer new members a choice from 1500 wines, 30 different mixed cases and more than 70 half bottles of wine. The Wine Society has also re-opened…