WSTA ‘assumes' duty payments due today (25 March)

The WSTA, which has relentlessly called on the Chancellor to suspend duty payments, last night said it assumed the payments would be due today (25 March) with no formal response from the Treasury to suggest otherwise.

Government confirms lease forfeiture moratorium for commercial businesses

The government has confirmed that it has extended the residential moratorium on lease forfeiture and debt enforcement to commercial leases.

Drinks companies join forces to plea for duty suspension

An initial 32 drinks companies (all WSTA members) have joined forces to plea for a cash lifeline, calling collectively on the Chancellor to suspend duty.     

Hospitality industry reiterates urgency of lease forfeiture moratorium

The hospitality industry has reiterated the urgency of the implementation of a six-month lease forfeiture moratorium for commercial businesses to prevent landlords taking control of premises in the event of non-payment of rents. 

Industry calls for alcohol duty suspension for at least six months

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is calling on officials to urgently suspend all alcohol duty to ease the tax burden on beleaguered businesses ahead of next week’s deadline. 

Budget: Coronavirus relief for SMEs and employees

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered a bold response to the coronavirus crisis in his 11 March budget, with a raft of measures to support SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and their employees.

Budget: Chancellor announces freeze on all alcohol duty

Duty on wines, spirits and beers is to be frozen, new Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in today’s budget, allaying trade fears of another rise in line with inflation.

Threat of ‘WineExit’

EU producers should lobby in tandem with UK importers for the best mutual outcome, stresses Harpers’ Brexit panel at Wine Paris

Last call on government to cut duty

A group of 14 MPs has made a last call to the government to cut duty ahead of Wednesday’s Budget.

Wine Drinkers UK urges Chancellor not to discriminate against working class and women

Wine Drinkers UK has called on the new Chancellor not to discriminate against the working class and women ahead of the next Budget on 11 March.

Friday Read: Hospitality is in for a rough ride

Wine duty hikes, currency devaluation, Brexit uncertainty – the Conservative government has been no friend of the wine trade. When the previous budget was unveiled in 2019, wine was the only drinks category to be hit with a duty rise. It was another ill-timed kick in the teeth for the trade, at a time when businesses were already coping with escalating overheads and staff shortages.

Rising price of wine threatens half of UK shoppers

The average retail price of a bottle of still wine will break the £6 barrier in the UK for the first time this year, according to new figures from the WSTA.

WSTA reiterates call for duty cut

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has reiterated its call for a cut in duty.    

Duty increase backfires

The last hike in wine duty delivered an own goal, denting government revenues. Andrew Catchpole asks if a limit has been reached

London restaurateurs call for wine duty cut

Spotlight on 2020: Damian Clarke, Freixenet Copestick

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers looks back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Food and drink industry gives cautious welcome to Tory victory

The food and drink industry has given a cautious welcome to the Conservative party’s general election win last night, which saw the Tories claim 364 seats, securing a majority parliament compared to rival Labour’s 203.  

Government hit by fall in wine-duty revenues

Wine duty receipts fell back 2.1% in the first six months of the financial year, according to data released by the government.

WineGB welcomes MPs' support for UK wineries

WineGB has welcomed the move from a number of MPs for more support for the UK’s small vineyards.

UK drinks tax discriminates against women, finds research

The unequal distribution of duty on wine and beer is biased against women, according to research conducted on behalf of campaign group Wine Drinkers UK.