Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

UK alcohol prices the fourth most expensive in Europe

Published: 07 February, 2018

Britain has been revealed as the fourth most expensive country in Europe when it comes to alcohol.

UK distillery number doubles in five years

Published: 17 January, 2018

The number of UK distilleries in the UK has doubled in the past five years, boosted by the gin boom.

Brexit and bad harvests could dampen supply of fizz

Published: 02 January, 2018

2018 could be the year that Brits’ love of sparkling catches up with them as experts predict a fizz shortage could be about to descend on the UK.

Chancellor Philip Hammond labelled “scrooge”

Published: 21 November, 2017

Philip Hammond is being labelled a “scrooge” after it was revealed he will be one of the worst Chancellors to tax the wine and spirit sector if he pursues the planned increase in the Budget tomorrow (Wednesday, 22 November).

Jerry Lockspeiser: An epic management disaster

Published: 20 November, 2017

It’s a tale of corporate mismanagement to rival the worst.

The WSTA guide – what you need to know and what you need to question about the forthcoming budget

Published: 15 November, 2017

Budget speak explained by the WSTA

Wine companies join forces to call for wine duty freeze

Published: 15 November, 2017

UK wine businesses have joined forces to call for a freeze to wine duty at the Budget next week.  

Industry calls on Chancellor for duty help

Published: 13 November, 2017

Trade associations have called on Chancellor Philip Hammond not to increase duty rates for the second time in a year.

Major English wine producers back WSTA's call for a freeze on wine duty

Published: 23 October, 2017

Major English and Welsh wine producers have joined forces with the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) to lobby the Chancellor for a cut to wine duty in the November Budget.

EU and UK wines and spirits chiefs launch joint Brexit proposition paper

Published: 19 October, 2017

European and UK bodies responsible for the wider wine and spirit industry have joined together to publish a joint position paper to outline their stance on Brexit.

WSTA warns of further hefty price hikes if duty is not frozen

Published: 16 October, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned of further wine and spirit price hikes if the Chancellor fails to freeze duty in the November Budget.

Brexit: Clarity versus chaos

Published: 11 October, 2017

At the recent WSTA Conference the trade called for greater clarity over a potential Brexit deal. Andrew Catchpole reports

Tory backbenchers team up with the WSTA to produce their own gin

Published: 05 October, 2017

The WSTA has continued its rallying cry to the government to support producers of British gin, by convincing the 1922 Committee on board to make its own blend.

Brexit-focused WSTA Conference delivers greater clarity - on extent of uncertainty

Published: 13 September, 2017

The WSTA’s Miles Beale called on the government for “more active partnership, more communication and to get more done” at its annual conference in London on Tuesday, which delivered insights into the complexity of Brexit, along with the gulf of uncertainty that still exists for the UK drinks trade.

Retail wine sales hit six-year high as Brexit pushes up prices

Published: 13 September, 2017

Sales of still wine in the off-trade saw record value growth in the last quarter new figures show, as well as the largest increase in average prices since April 2014.

WSTA calls on government to ‘stop punishing consumers’ as wine prices continue to rise

Published: 12 September, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the government to “stop punishing consumers” as its latest market report, released today, revealed the impact of the triple whammy price hike.

Final panelists to join resigned trade minister at WSTA conference

Published: 05 September, 2017

The final panelists for the WSTA’s international trade-themed annual conference have been revealed.

Rum set to break £1 billion barrier

Published: 26 August, 2017

Hot on the heels of gin, rum is the latest spirit set to reach sales of £1 billion later this year.

TWE's Tom King joins the WSTA board

Published: 21 August, 2017

Dan Townsend’s successor at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has joined the board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

WSTA urges Government clarity to prevent Brexit chaos for businesses

Published: 03 August, 2017

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s chief executive Miles Beale has flagged up the “deep seated” concerns of drinks industry leaders over the Government’s apparent lack of clear strategy over Brexit.