Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Upward-only rent reviews banned in win for on- and off-trade

Published: 14 July, 2025

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill includes a ban on upward-only rent review clauses in commercial leases.

WSTA Industry Summit: Adapting to change

Published: 07 July, 2025

The first iteration of the WSTA Industry Summit since 2019 could not have come at a more pertinent time for the sector. On the docket were tariffs and domestic headaches, but also themes of adaptability and resilience.

UK Hospitality warns sector faces being taxed out

Published: 07 July, 2025

UK Hospitality has warned the Prime Minister that hospitality is in danger of being taxed out, with the sector having lost 69,000 jobs since the Budget.

EPR fees announced as joint statement laments changes

Published: 30 June, 2025

The delayed details of the official cost per tonne of glass as part of the government’s EPR scheme have been announced by DEFRA.

UKH: Industrial Strategy a missed opportunity to support hospitality

Published: 23 June, 2025

The government’s announcement of its new Industrial Strategy has been met with frustration from figures inside the hospitality trade. UKHospitality has noted that the sector is among the industries not included in the Strategy’s energy bill reduction plan.

WSTA Industry Summit predicts 10% US tariff on UK here to stay

Published: 12 June, 2025

The first iteration of the WSTA Industry Summit since 2019 saw themes of resilience and adaptability underscore the global and domestic challenges explored. Key takeaways from the event included tariff predictions and the need to unwind the ever-frustrating policy burden of “three-word acronyms” from EPR to RAM.

Over 100,000 job losses since April NICs increase

Published: 11 June, 2025

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) can reveal that the number of payrolled employees decreased by 109,000 in May compared to the previous month. The employment drop comes after April’s National Insurance Contributions (NICs) policy changes.

Employment Rights Bill could spell challenges for hospitality trade

Published: 02 May, 2025

The first House of Lords committee debate took place this week on the Employment Rights Bill after its successful passage through the House of Commons.

China matches US tariff escalation as EU mulls path forward

Published: 11 April, 2025

Effective from Saturday (12 April) China will raise tariffs on US goods in a tit-for-tat escalation which sees both countries now imposing tariffs of 125% on the other.

EU signals bourbon to be dropped from tariffs against US

Published: 08 April, 2025

Stéphane Séjourné, European commissioner for industrial strategy, has announced that tariffs against bourbon could be removed from the EU list of retaliatory tariffs against the US.

Hopes licensing review can cut red tape for hospitality

Published: 07 April, 2025

A new working group, which includes industry body UKHospitality (UKH), has been announced by the UK government to look into how to reduce barriers in the country’s licensing system.

Industry bemoans 'April fool’s joke' as EPR introduced

Published: 01 April, 2025

Figures from across the drinks trade have reacted to the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation which came into effect today (1 April). The new policy which was intended to introduce a “polluters pay principle” regarding packaging waste has faced significant backlash from the drinks industry due to a series of perceived flaws.

Japanese whisky adopts new logo in GI status push

Published: 28 March, 2025

The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSLMA) has announced the adoption of a new logo to reinforce its industry standards regarding whisky production, first established in February 2021.

UK bucks global underage drinking trend

Published: 27 March, 2025

Data from the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking’s (IARD) 2025 Report on Underage Drinking can reveal that since 2010, underage drinking has fallen or stabilised in 58% of the 66 countries analysed. Included within this cohort are countries for whom there were reductions of underage drinking of 40% or more including Australia, the US and Japan.

New HMRC digital service for managing duty payments goes live

Published: 03 March, 2025

The new digital service from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ‘Manage your Alcohol Duty’, which went live on 1 March, is purported to allow for easier reporting and online payment services regarding alcohol duty.

The Portman Group’s alcohol guidelines: A quiet revolution in the UK alcohol sector

Published: 11 October, 2024

James Bayley finds the UK alcohol industry is, more than ever, taking the Portman Group’s guidelines on board when it comes to drinks labelling.

Hospitality faces potential outdoor smoking ban

Published: 29 August, 2024

Lighting up outside on restaurant terraces and pub gardens could be outlawed by the new Labour government, creating more uncertainty for businesses which are already struggling to encourage consumers to visit their venues.

Guidance offered on new food calorie labelling regulations, which folds in no and low drinks

Published: 31 January, 2022

New legislation is set to be implemented this year, requiring businesses with over 250 employees to display calories information for food products sold to consumers.

Government extends rent moratorium to March 2022

Published: 17 June, 2021

The government has announced new legislation which will extend the rent moratorium past the former 30 June 2021 deadline, while also introducing a new arbitration system to solve disputes between landlords and commercial tenants affected by the pandemic.

The new Argentine wine map

Published: 15 July, 2019

Sommelier and wine writer Alejandro Iglesias traces the efforts of winemakers working within the country’s rigid GI system to highlight Argentina’s unique terroirs.