Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

WSTA’s inflation prediction confirmed

Published: 19 February, 2024

Research shows alcohol duty hikes have negatively affected wine and spirits sales – and contributed to UK inflation rates. James Bayley looks into the figures.

WSTA calls on Chancellor to cut duty in spring budget

Published: 25 January, 2024

Faced with falling wine and spirit sales and subsequent diminishing revenues to the Exchequer, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called upon the Chancellor to reduce duty on the sector in the 6 March Spring budget.

HMRC receipts from ‘sin taxes’ continue to fall

Published: 22 January, 2024

Tax revenues from so-called ‘sin taxes’ levied on alcohol, tobacco, gambling and sugary drinks have fallen to 3.1% of total UK tax receipts, according to HMRC figures for 2022-2023.

Alcohol duty rises impact inflation

Published: 17 January, 2024

Last August’s duty hikes for wine and spirits have contributed to December’s unexpected rise in UK inflation, it has been revealed, as the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) announces that the rate for the sector is now three times higher than it was this time last year.

New wine label reforms take effect

Published: 02 January, 2024

As of yesterday (1 January 2024), several new wine reforms introduced by the government have taken effect, including the removal of importer addresses from wine labels.

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Miles Beale, WSTA

Published: 22 December, 2023

Following another turbulent year for the drinks trade, Miles Beale, CEO of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), reflects on the highs and lows of 2023, plus the hopes and plans for businesses in the year ahead.

WSTA debunks pesticide report

Published: 15 December, 2023

Recent results from a UK government testing programme have suggested a dramatic increase in the proportion of wine that contains multiple pesticide residues – up from 14% in 2016 to 50% in 2022.

Wine Paris & Vinexpo 2024 announce massive expansion

Published: 23 November, 2023

The fifth Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris is due to take place from 12 to 14 February 2024 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The Vinexposium group’s flagship exhibition has announced it will welcome 3,900 exhibitors (+15%) and 40,000 (+28%) trade visitors for its 2024 event.

Spirits sales down 20% after August hikes

Published: 20 November, 2023

Wine and spirit businesses continue to urge the chancellor to freeze alcohol duty at the Autumn Statement.

Labelling challenge to wine

Published: 20 November, 2023

As part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the largest modification to wine labelling in the EU in over a century comes into effect next month, forcing producers to embrace new technology, writes Jo Gilbert.

Fears grow for second alcohol duty rise in less than a year

Published: 13 November, 2023

Wine and spirit businesses are calling on the chancellor to freeze alcohol duty until the end of parliament, when Jeremy Hunt delivers his Autumn Statement on 22 November.

400 businesses demand alcohol duty freeze

Published: 06 November, 2023

Representatives of more than 400 businesses have written to the chancellor demanding an alcohol duty freeze in the Autumn Statement.

Fears grow for watered-down wine following Defra reforms

Published: 18 October, 2023

In what the government describes as a Brexit benefit, imported wine will soon have the option to be blended, carbonated, sweetened, and de-alcoholised in-market.

WSTA welcomes UK label changes

Published: 17 October, 2023

Following a public consultation, the government has set out reforms for the wine sector which will begin in 2024.

New guidance published for alcohol sales via rapid home deliveries

Published: 09 October, 2023

The Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG) has published a new set of guidance to prevent underage drinkers from purchasing alcohol via home delivery services.

WSTA speakers sign up for SITT Autumn

Published: 23 August, 2023

The Specialist Importers’ Trade Tasting can reveal that the WSTA’s Miles Beale and Simon Cairns will be joining Harpers at its autumn edition, taking place in both London (18 September) and Manchester (20 September).

Duty hikes: Details of government consultation revealed

Published: 11 August, 2023

The alcohol duty hikes on 1 August 2023 were the biggest the UK has seen in nearly fifty years and the changes will impact all wines across the country.

Multiples: Shoppers to pay price for duty

Published: 07 August, 2023

With wine duty set to increase by 20% and spirits duty by more than 10%, how might supermarkets offset these costs? James Bayley reports.

The WSTA to launch ‘low and no’ alcohol guides

Published: 04 August, 2023

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has spearheaded the development of the UK’s first low and no alcohol guides, amid exponential growth in the burgeoning sector.