Budget: Responses from the trade
"Although a freeze is better than a raise, I am disappointed the Chancellor hasn't seen fit to use duty in the fight against smuggling.
"I think the Chancellor should take a careful look at the costs of smuggling - the social cost far outweighs the financial cost. Alcohol trafficking deserves the same level of attention as Britain's drug problem."
John McNamara, chief executive, the British Institute of Innkeeping (pictured).
"This goes a little way towards addressing the long-term problem of high duty rates in the UK which is depressing consumer demand and leading to an increase in illegal imports of beer."Stewart Gilliland, regional president for the UK and Eire, Interbrew UK
"The annual saving on duty will allow us not only to purchase an additional delivery vehicle but will enable us to employ a full-time driver and part-time telesales staff."Iain Turnbull, head brewer, Edinburgh microbrewer Fisherrow Brewery
"It is good to see spirits duty frozen for a fifth successive year but we are disappointed to see the duty rate for pre-mixed spirits go up. This effectively discriminates against these products which opens up a gap between them and premium packaged lagers of comparable ABV."Don Goulding, managing director, Diageo GB
"The tax freeze on spirits was welcomed, but the tax hike on pre-packaged spirits is a blow to white spirit producers who are being taxed for their investment in innovation."Edwin Atkinson, director general, the Gin and Vodka Association
More on Budget 2002:
- Chancellor accused of "conning" beer drinkers
- Small businesses boost from red tape cuts
- PPSs hit by 65 per cent duty rise
Related stories:
Brewers hope for duty announcement in Budget speech (5 April 2002)
MPs back call for duty cut on small brewers' beers (20 March 2002)
Government confirms sliding scale of beer duty (1 March 2002)
Sussex microbrewer calls for sliding duty (1 February 2002)
Duty cut campaign gathers pace in run-up to budget (18 January 2002)
