UK's drinks industry call on government to reinstate duty freeze on alcohol

By Helen Arnold
Over 100 top drinks industry leaders have called on the UK’s chancellor to bring back the freeze on alcohol duties.
In a letter published in today’s Times newspaper, the group urged the government to rethink it’s U-turn on duty freeze. “Businesses feel like the rug has been pulled from under them and are bracing themselves for the Chancellor to deliver a damaging double digit tax rise at the Autumn budget this week,” said Miles Beale, the chief executive of the countrys leading drinks trade body, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) and one of the signatories.
“This could not have come at a worse time for the alcohol trade, with bars and restaurants, producers and suppliers still reeling from pandemic lockdowns and having to manage ever-increasing costs and global supply chain issues.”
He pointed out that historically, there is no evidence that freezing alcohol duty adversely affects the Treasury’s coffers, as over the past five years government income from taxing alcohol has actually increased by 18% - “because of, not despite, duty freezes,” he claimed.
The letter, signed by many of the UK drinks sectors leading producers, manufacturers, trade bodies and retailers [see full list below], claimed that the government’s decision to reverse the alcohol duty freeze will result in double digit tax rises “that unnecessarily fuel inflation, leads to higher prices for consumera nd to thousands of jobs being put at risk.
"Despite the challenges of Brexit, the pandemic and disruption to global supply chains, our sector has provided increased revenue to the Exchequer because of, not despite, duty freezes. We urge the government to support the drinks industry and cancel the double-digit tax increases on spirits, wine, cider and beer.”
Full list of signatories:
Miles Beale, Wine and Spirit Trade Association; Mark Kent, Scotch Whisky Association; Kate Nicholls, UK Hospitality; Lizzy Rudd, Berry Bros. & Rudd; Nuno Teles, Diageo; Simon Doyle, Concha y Toro UK; Mark Riley, Edrington UK; Alexei Rosin, Moët Hennessy UK; Tamara Roberts, Ridgeview English Wine Estate; Dan Szor, Cotswold Distillery; Fenella Tyler, NACM cider Makers Ltd; Simon Thorpe, Wines of Great Britain Ltd; Mark Riley, Christopher Hayman, Hayman Distillers; Simon Longbottom, Stonegate; Charles and Ruth Simpson, Simpsons English Wine Estate; Matt Tipping & Hugh Sturges, Jeroboams; David Gates, Direct Wines; Steve Finlan, The Wine Society; Jo Wehring, Wines of South Africa; James Ellis, Ellis Wines; James Rackham, Emporia Brands Ltd; Kathy Caton, Brighton Gin; Caroline Thompson-Hill, Accolade Wines; Brian Davis, London City Bond Ltd; Christopher Carson, Carson Wines Ltd; John Colley, Majestic; Patrick McGrath, Hatch Mansfield; Mark Driver, Rathfinny English Wine Estate; Melissa Draycott, Gonzalez Byass UK; Michael Cleary, Jägermeister UK ; Simon Lawson, Casella Brands (Europe) Ltd; Philippa Strub, Laithwaites; Paul Letheren, Off-Piste Wines; Louise Etienne, La Cave de Bruno; William Oddy, The Drinks Company Ltd; Alex Wolpert, East London Liquor co.; Shirley Couchman Wells & Co; Steve Moody, Fells; Andrew Carter, Chapel Down English Wine; Laurence Conisbee, Wharf Distillery; Tom Mann, Mann Fine Wine; Julian Dyer, AVL wines ; Fergal Tynan, Alliance Wine; Hal Wilson, Cambridge Wine; Mark Schuringa, Ditton Wine and Spirits; Patrick Wilkinson, Wilkinson Vintners; Gavin Quinney, Bauduc Ltd; Richard Cochrone, Felix Solis; James Waugh, Fortnum & Mason; Andrew Bewes, Hallgarten & Novum Wines; Charles Maxwell, Thames Distillers; Ed Baker, Kingsland; Stephen Davies, Penderyn; Jonica Fox, Fox and Fox English Wine; Linda Cowan, Alliance Wine; James Crawford, Naked Wines; Richard Billett, Maisons Marques et Domaines UK; Karl Mason, Masons of Yorkshire; Greg Shaw, SH Jones Wines Ltd; Anita Jackson, Wines of Chile UK Ltd; Chris Leeke, Hensol Castle Distillery; Martin Thatcher, Thatchers Cider Company Limited; Michael Johnson J.S. Wines & Spirits Ltd; Nicky Forrest, Phipps; Justin Randall, Goedhuis & Co Ltd; Nick Woodward, Brand Harbour Drinks; Dave Sanders, Three Counties Cider & Perry Association; Adam Dugmore, Ester Wines Ltd; Alenka Cok, Enotria Winecellars; James Miles, Liv-ex; Martyn Oakley, Averys; Gary Smith, Premium Wines, Vineyards & Estates; Rob Pitcher, Revolution Bars; Nicholas Tatham, Continental Wine & Food; Nick Room, RT Wine Solutions Ltd; Jim Turnbull, Food Development Company Ltd; Alex Hunt, Berkmann Wine Cellars; Helen Thomas, Westons Cider Makers; Adrian Curry, Encirc; Conal Treacy, Irish Distillery; Mark Kears, Les Grands Chais De France; John Kennedy, Halewood Artisanal Spirits; Blake Liddell, E&J Gallo Winery; Sarah Kingsbury, Distil Company Ltd; Chris Charters, Welsh Perry Cider Association; Damien Clarke, Freixenet Copestick; Liza Ramadanova, Rémy Cointreau; Steve Perez, Global Brands; Julien Lonneux, Vranken-Pommery UK Ltd; David Sheppy, Sheppy’s Cider Ltd; Douglas Crawford, Morrison Distillers; Andrew Crook, Vintage Malt Whisky Company; Alasdair Day, Isle of Raasay Distillery; Bryan Donaghey, Whyte and Mackay; Alex Bruce, Adelphi Distillery; John Fordyce, The Borders Distillery Company; Gordon Johncox, Aston Manor Cider; Gregor Hannah, Hannah Whisky Merchants; Andrew Hogan, Drinks Innovation; Scott Laing, Hunter Laing & Co; Chris Legget, Douglas Laing & Co; Ewen Mackintosh, Gordon & MacPhail; Joe Healey, Healeys Cyder; Martin McAdam, Ardgowan Distillery Company; Colin Mathews, Loch Lomond Distillers, Glen Scotia Distillers and Littlemill Distillery Company; Neil McGeoch, Lochlea Distillery; Ian Palmer, InchDairnie Distillery; Patrick Gardner, Cornish Orchards; Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Distillery; David Ridley, Artisanal Spirits Company; Phil Urban M&B; Nick Temperley, UK & Ireland, Beam Suntory; Philip & Simon Thompson, Dornoch Distillery; Charlie Holland, Gusbourne English Wine; Geoffrey Thompson, The Lambswick Drinks Company Ltd; Mary Willock Brunning & Price ,