Duty escalator to blame for high alcohol prices - WSTA

24 June, 2013

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has claimed that the Government’s wine and spirits duty escalator is to blame for UK consumers paying the fourth highest prices for alcohol in the EU.

New figures published by Eurostat and the ONS show that British consumers pay 43% more for their alcohol compared to their European counterparts.

The figures, which compare consumer price levels across the EU, reveal that Britons are paying more for their alcohol than other EU countries apart from Sweden, Finland and Ireland.

Mile Beale, WSTA chief executive said: “The Government has been putting increasing pressure on consumers with continuous tax rises on wine and spirits for the past 5 years.  Tax now accounts for 57% of the cost of a bottle of wine and 79% of a bottle of vodka.

“These figures show that British consumers are being squeezed much more than our European counterparts. At a time when cost of living increases are hitting families hard the Government needs to urgently reconsider its unpopular wine and spirits duty escalator.”





Digital Edition

Drinks International digital edition is available ahead of the printed magazine. Don’t miss out, make sure you subscribe today to access the digital edition and all archived editions of Drinks International as part of your subscription.

Comment

La'Mel Clarke

Service isn’t servitude: the skill of hosting

La’Mel Clarke, front of house at London’s Seed Library, looks at the forgotten art of hosting and why it deserves the same respect as bartending.

Instagram

Facebook