Excise

Sector bodies unite in call for 'fair deal for pubs' in spring statement

09-Mar-2018 By Claire Churchard

The Chancellor has been urged to take decisive action on business rates reform, hospitality VAT and post-Brexit excise duty by a coalition of industry and consumer hospitality bodies ahead of his spring statement next week.

WSTA implores Hammond to consign booze hikes to Christmas past

21-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

With this year’s seasonal shop to cost an all-time high, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) attempted to mask its frustration.

Worrying 35m pint drop in beer sales

06-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Sales of beer in pubs have suffered a worrying drop, the worst performance in five years, for the third quarter of 2017.

WSTA calls on Government for on-trade help

13-Sep-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the Government to help the on-trade, as it revealed the average price of a 175ml glass of wine has increased by 21p compared to the same period last year.

Rum to break £1bn sales barrier this year

29-Aug-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Rum sales are expected to top the £1bn mark this year if current consumption trends continue, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has said.

WSTA calls for 2% wine and spirit duty cut

23-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to cut wine and spirit duty by 2%.

Spirits

Gin lovers to be hit by major price hike

25-Oct-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits drinkers’ pockets are expected to be hit by an inflation-induced price hike, following a similar story for wine, the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) has warned.

Two percent cut in alcohol duty will support on-trade, WSTA claims

11-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called for the Government to back British distilleries and vineyards with a 2% alcohol duty cut in the March Budget, a move they claim will support the growing demand for wine and spirits in the on-trade.

Pubs trading with 'illicit' wholesalers could face 'signficant penalties', HMRC warns

02-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Publicans who purchase stock from unregistered wholesalers could face “significant penalties” under new legislation designed to tackle alcohol duty fraud, HM Revenue & Customs has warned.

JDW reports positive outlook as like-for-like sales up

24-Jul-2013 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon says it expects to achieve a slightly better outcome for its current financial year than previously anticipated, as it reports a 3.5% rise in like-for-like sales in the 11 weeks to 14 July and an increase in operating margins.

Pre-tax profits rise 7.5% for Theakston

23-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Theakston, the North Yorkshire brewer, saw pre-tax profits rise 7.5% to £1.45m last year, despite seeing its duty bill increase to 48.3% of gross turnover.

Surrey pub landlord slams industry ‘apathy’ over beer duty escalator petition

11-May-2012 By Helen Gilbert

A licensee has blasted the sector for its “apathetic” attitude towards the industry petition calling for an end to the duty escalator.

Duty-bound to try again

29-Mar-2012 By Rob Willock

So, after the time and effort the industry expended trying to persuade the Government to halt the alcohol duty escalator, George Osborne dashed our hopes with a single sentence: “Today I have no further changes to make to the main duty rates set out by...

Net rate of pub closures hits 18 per week as beer duty escalator debate hits Parliament

01-Feb-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The net rate of pubs closures has increased by 50% with 18 pubs a week closing - up from the previous figures of 12 per week - the latest CGA-CAMRA Pub Tracker has revealed.

Ban on below cost sales due for April 2012

08-Nov-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The Government is to introduce a ban on sale of ‘below cost’ alcohol in England and Wales on 6 April 2012.

Wetherspoons warns on rising costs

19-Jan-2011 By Hamish Champ

JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub operator, has warned that despite an "encouraging" performance from its newly-opened pubs, rising supply costs and...

Fresh fears coalition will fudge below-cost ban

13-Jan-2011 By James Wilmore

Fears are increasing the government's much-touted below-cost ban on alcohol will have zero impact on cut-price supermarket deals. Government...

Government explains off-trade inaction

07-Dec-2010 By Ewan Turney

Concerns over price fixing, commercial confidentiality and enforcement led to the below-cost ban on alcohol being dropped from the new Bill.

Tax needn't be taxing - but its effects can be damaging

11-Oct-2010 By Hamish Champ

Tax, as the advertisements for the Inland Revenue say, needn't be taxing. Try telling that to Europe's - and the UK's - brewers. A new report by...

Duty rises and price freezes hit Magners producer

25-May-2010 By Hamish Champ

Duty rises and price freezes will hit C&C Group's comparative trading performance in the coming year. The Irish drinks group, which numbers...

'VAT and duty: Cigarettes and alcohol hit by 'hidden' excise charge'

10-Dec-2009

There were no changes to alcohol and tobacco duty rates in yesterday's pre-Budget report, after they had been increased a year ago to offset the...

Heineken volumes boosted by S&N deal

22-Apr-2009 By Ewan Turney

Heineken has reported a 12% increase in beer volumes in the first three months of 2009 thanks to the the acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle...

Price of a pint of ale up 5.5 per cent in last year

20-Apr-2009 By James Wilmore

Duty hikes over the past year have forced the price of a pint of real ale up by 5.5 per cent, new research has revealed. The study by the Campaign...

Download your Darling dartboard

27-Nov-2008 By MA Team

It now seems to be official — Chancellor Alistair Darling wants to kill off the pub trade. Yesterday's news that Darling had agreed to cut his duty...

6 Alistair Darling

29-May-2008

Chancellor of the Exchequer (new entry)

Gloves are off over duty rises

10-Apr-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co

MA launches new anti-hike campaign MPs urged to back Early Day Motion The Morning Advertiser is urging pubs to fight plans for massive alcohol tax...

Fight the Hikes!

10-Apr-2008 By Fight the Hikes

Join the battle to overturn the massive duty hikes promised for the next four years by the Chancellor

'Parents are buying their children four-packs of beer to get drunk on'

20-Nov-2007

Parents are buying their children four-packs of beer to get drunk on, a government report has said. Ed Balls, Schools Secretary, speaking at the...

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...

Budget threshold gives Jennings duty dilemma

25-Mar-2004

by Tony Halstead Regional brewer Jennings Brothers says it has some "serious thinking" on its plate in the light of increased excise duty breaks...

Calls for duty freeze to safeguard future of British beer

05-Feb-2004

The future of the British beer industry could be under threat unless the government acts on duty immediately, according to experts.The British Beer...

JDW blames red tape for cut back on new openings

09-Sep-2003

Concerns over red tape and the new licensing regime have prompted pub operator JD Wetherspoon to cut back on pub openings.Outspoken company founder...