Duty

OPINION

Sector’s hopes snuffed out as Chancellor fails to understand pub reality

06-Mar-2024 By Ed Bedington

It was a faint hope, but still cruelly dashed as the chancellor stood at the dispatch box and showed his fundamental lack of understanding of the pub sector.

Review of the Week

'If there was a genuine cut in duty, that would be a reduction in the cost of running pubs'

26-Jan-2024 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Titanic Brewery boss Keith Bott to get his take on the week's news, from Government infighting to duty cuts.

Review of the Week

'NLW rise will mean we need to turn over quarter of a million more'

24-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Mojo's Martin Greenhow to get his take on the week's news and the Autumn Statement.

Autumn Statement

What's the opposite of exceeding expectations?

22-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

Expectations ahead of the Autumn Statement were already pretty low in the pub sector and I think it’s fair to say they have been duly met.

Review of the Week

'Can't see it getting a lot better'

04-Aug-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Frisco Pubs boss and podcast legend Heath Ball to get his take on the week's news, from duty changes and utilities profits to the weather.

Review of the Week

‘It’s a bit of a war out there’

14-Jul-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Heartwood Collection chairman Mark Derry to discuss the week's news, from duty rates to recruitment and the need to be more upbeat.

OPINION

Delusions of cheaper beer is beyond naive Prime Minister

24-May-2023 By Ed Bedington

You have to wonder if politicians really believe the things they say because our Prime Minister’s recent comments about how one of the benefits of Brexit has been the delivery of cheaper beer does seem to fly in the face of reality.

Big Interview

The undercover boss

24-May-2023 By Ed Bedington

There won’t be many captains of industry that look to stay close to the coalface, but for one top boss, playing an undercover role behind the bar is key to understanding his business.

Review of the Week

‘Politics back to normal’

17-Mar-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls to get her take on the week's news, which has seen the Spring Budget announced, Ofgem's letter to Government and potential train strike breakthroughs.

The MA's Review of the Week

‘People have to recognise when costs go up, so do prices’

29-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Blind Tiger's Chris Tulloch to pick apart some of the bigger headlines of the week, from the budget to latest mergers.

August budget 2021

Budget 2021: Industry reaction

28-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

As the dust settles around Rishi Sunak's Budget, the industry is starting to pick apart the details of the pledges made, with mixed reactions. The Morning Advertiser spoke to a range of leading figures from the trade to get their thoughts on whether...

Pint of beer almost 3x cheaper in supermarkets

26-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

With the Budget just around the corner, The Morning Advertiser has taken a look at how much cheaper the off-trade can sell a pint at.

Wine duty ‘disproportionately penalises’ women

02-Mar-2020 By Alice Leader

Duty decisions focusing on beer is having an “unfair” impact on wine drinkers, thereby hitting its main consumer, women, harder than it does men, new insight shows.

Booze sales could be damaged with duty freeze cut

04-Jul-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Scrapping the alcohol duty freeze put in place last year by Government is “counter-productive”, and will increase pressure on cash-strapped consumers, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association has warned (WSTA).

Government making a mint from your booze sales

15-Jun-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

The Treasury is continuing to make a mint from UK booze sales, despite a freeze on alcohol duty in November, showing the sector can remain fruitful without another hike.

New warning on counterfeit sales

06-Jan-2011 By John Harrington

Pubs have been given a fresh warning about the dangers of selling smuggled alcohol after 11 shops had their licences revoked or suspended en masse...

Major campaign on duty fraud underway

10-Dec-2010 By Ewan Turney

A major campaign to stamp out excise duty and VAT fraud on alcohol is underway with a number of premises facing action.

Duty down on low strength beers

30-Nov-2010 By Ewan Turney

The Government is to increase duty on beers over 7.5% abv but will reduce duty on beers under 2.8% abv at the next budget in March. The Treasury...

CAMRA: end special treatment for spirits

03-Dec-2009 By Ewan Turney

Special treatment for duty on spirits should end in order to fund a reduction in beer duty, the CAMRA has told the Chancellor.

Give licensees a fair chance

02-Apr-2009 By Andrew Pring

Punch shouldn't waste the time of those licensees who really are interested in buying, says Andrew Pring.

MPs to investigate duty impact on wine and spirits

13-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney

A group of MPs have launched an inquiry into the impact of last year's bumper duty rises and the potential duty escalator rise on wine and spirits....

Legal advice: What's the deal with asbestos?

23-Feb-2007

As with many buildings, asbestos is common in pubs. It can be in almost any part of the building, from the floor tiles to the roofing material, and...

Licensees could face seven years in prison over duty stamps

08-Feb-2007

Licensees could face up to seven years in prison if they handle products that haven't had the excise duty paid on them.The warning comes from Customs...

It's small beer from Gordon

18-Mar-2004

l Duty on a pint of beer up 1p l Duty on a bottle of wine up 4p l Duty frozen on spirits, RTDs, cider and sparkling wine l Duty on a packet of...

Progressive beer duty review welcomed by brewers

31-Jul-2003

More brewers could be reaping the benefits from progressive beer duty (PBD) following a government review.Customs & Excise has launched a...

Brown sets date for Budget on April 9

06-Mar-2003

Chancellor Gordon Brown will be announcing this year's Budget later than usual on April 9.It is thought the delay of a month is down to a possible...

Customs & Excise gets Neame rap

19-Dec-2002

by Ailsa Colquhoun Customs & Excise officials have been described as "unfair and inefficient" by an industry leader after a week in which it...

Trade fury as Customs staff sell on seized alcohol and tobacco

12-Dec-2002

The licensed trade is furious that Customs and Excise staff have been allegedly selling on cheap alcohol and cigarettes seized from passengers.The...

Smuggling cost hits £1bn a year

28-Nov-2002

New figures show that £1bn a year is lost in taxes to smugglers - amounting to costs of £12,000 a year for the average pub.Smuggling also cripples...

Pubs dealt further blow as crisis hits Customs

06-Nov-2002

Pubs are set to be dealt a further blow in their fight to halt booze cruisers as Customs and Excise find themselves in crisis.Customs and Excise is...

Custom-made cuts?

16-Aug-2002

An EU ruling on hard-line tactics by UK Customs and Excise may prove to be a boost for the trade's campaign to reduce duty. By Michelle...

Smuggling costs £750m in lost duty

15-Feb-2002

Alcohol smuggling is costing Britain £750m every year in lost duty, according to new figures from the National Audit Office.The new figures...

Government will not cut beer duty

30-Jan-2002

The Government has once again confirmed it will not reduce beer duty in an attempt to stop bootlegging.Paul Boateng, the financial secretary to the...

European union?

05-Dec-2001

As the EU proposes harmonisation of duty levels, the difference between Britain and the continent grows ever larger. Jackie Annett reportsIt's a...

Boateng rules out cut in duty

06-Jul-2001

Lower duty rate will not stop smuggling, says new C&E ministerTrade campaigners have hit out at new Customs & Excise chief Paul Boateng after...

Customs winning war on smuggling

29-May-2001

Conference hears how inroads have been made to tackle importsThe fight to beat cross-Channel smuggling is beginning to see slight improvements, with...