Beadles positive about Treasury mission

Jeremy Beadles, the chief executive of the Wines & Spirit Trade Association - together with a committee of senior wine trade members - is to draw up alternative mechanics for imposing wine duty rises after a positive meeting with senior Treasury officials on 1 March.
Beadles commented: The Treasury seemed prepared to listen, and accepted that the current system is effectively a tax on margin. It is up to us now to put together a report that proves our arguments and provides a workable alternative to the current system. From their point of view, how duty increases are introduced is not important as long as they receive the same amount of revenue. What they will not accept, of course, is a fall in the total duty take.'
Beadles added that the report will take at least six months to put together. This is a long-term project'.
The seven-man committee includes Christopher Carson, the chairman of Constellation Wines Europe and Mike Paul, the managing director of Western Wines.