WSTA calls on Government for on-trade help
The latest figures, published in the WSTA Market Report, take into account sales between the 26 March and 17 June 2017.
The WSTA said that prices have been affected by the triple whammy resulting from Brexit’s impact on the pound, rising inflation and the 3.9% inflationary duty rise on alcohol imposed by the Chancellor at his Budget in March.
Total volume sales of alcohol across both the on and off-trade were down for the fourth quarter in a row.
It said this coincides with a rise in the price of all alcohol products sold in shops, compared to the same time last year. And a rise in the price of most alcohol sold in pubs, bars and restaurants, with the exception of sparkling and fortified wine.
A YouGov poll published in the report revealed that consumers were uneasy with the creeping costs, with 80% of people expressing concerns over the prospect of paying higher prices. These figures were up from 71% in February.
WSTA chief executive Miles Beale said: “The inflationary duty rise on alcohol – at a painful 3.9% – inflicted in the March Budget, came on top of the effects of Brexit: the fall in the value of the pound, compounded by rising inflation.
“But I am sad to say the pain doesn’t end here. The Autumn Budget is set to see alcohol duty rise by inflation once again. Unless Government starts showing support for our under-valued alcohol industry, in November, we’ll find ourselves on the end of a further blow to follow up the triple whammy combination already dealt out to our industry this year. We need a time-out from excise duty increases.”
In three months to June, the WSTA revealed that an average priced bottle of wine was at an all-time high, coming in at £5.56.
