Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Last call on government to cut duty

Published: 09 March, 2020

A group of 14 MPs has made a last call to the government to cut duty ahead of Wednesday’s Budget.

Wine Drinkers UK urges Chancellor not to discriminate against working class and women

Published: 02 March, 2020

Wine Drinkers UK has called on the new Chancellor not to discriminate against the working class and women ahead of the next Budget on 11 March.

Friday Read: Hospitality is in for a rough ride

Published: 21 February, 2020

Wine duty hikes, currency devaluation, Brexit uncertainty – the Conservative government has been no friend of the wine trade. When the previous budget was unveiled in 2019, wine was the only drinks category to be hit with a duty rise. It was another ill-timed kick in the teeth for the trade, at a time when businesses were already coping with escalating overheads and staff shortages.

Looking back on a decade - Part one

Published: 23 January, 2020

2010-2020 delivered incredible change on both a domestic and an international level. The Harpers team peers back at some of the key stories that continue to shape today’s trade

WSTA reiterates call for duty cut

Published: 21 January, 2020

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has reiterated its call for a cut in duty.

Duty increase backfires

Published: 09 January, 2020

The last hike in wine duty delivered an own goal, denting government revenues. Andrew Catchpole asks if a limit has been reached

Trump versus France spat intensifies with threat of 100% wine tariffs

Published: 03 December, 2019

Tariffs on French wine entering the US could be subjected to 100% tariffs, authorities have warned, following an investigation into whether a new technology tax in France unfairly targets American companies.

Government hit by fall in wine-duty revenues

Published: 02 December, 2019

Wine duty receipts fell back 2.1% in the first six months of the financial year, according to data released by the government.

Jerry Lockspeiser: How should the wine trade vote on 12 December?

Published: 22 November, 2019

Running west along London’s Southbank on the section after the London Eye, with the Houses of Parliament to the right across the River Thames and just before Lambeth bridge, I came across a red van selling hot drinks. The side of the van was emblazoned with the words SINGLE ORIGIN HOT CHOCOLATE.

SWA welcomes UK alcohol tax review

Published: 08 November, 2019

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has welcomed the Conservative pledge to review tax paid on a bottle of whisky.

UK drinks tax discriminates against women, finds research

Published: 20 September, 2019

The unequal distribution of duty on wine and beer is biased against women, according to research conducted on behalf of campaign group Wine Drinkers UK.

WSTA announces full line up for 2019 Industry Summit

Published: 06 September, 2019

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has announced its full line up of experts poised to take the stage at the 2019 Industry Summit.

Thousands of US jobs at risk if drinks tariffs imposed

Published: 06 August, 2019

Nearly 80,000 jobs in the US drinks sector could go if the US government targets wine and spirits in its tariff dispute with the EU, the industry has warned.

France rebuffs Trump on wine tax threat

Published: 29 July, 2019

Bruno Le Maire, France’s minister of finance, has rejected a threat from US President Donald Trump to impose a levy on imports of French wine into the US.

Conviviality to raise £125 million to avoid collapsing

Published: 22 March, 2018

Conviviality has confirmed its likely to go out of business if its fundraising bid to raise £125 million fails.

Cash strapped Conviviality looks to equity fundraise to meet £30m tax bill

Published: 16 March, 2018

Cash strapped wholesaling group Conviviality has announced it is in talks to begin equity fundraising in to plug a £30m tax shortfall which is due on March 29.

Budget: duty frozen on wines, spirits and beers

Published: 22 November, 2017

Duty on wines, spirits and beers is to be frozen, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced in today’s budget, allaying trade fears of another rise in line with inflation.

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

‘Public’ says alcohol taxes a cash cow for government

Published: 29 October, 2017

Just one in 10 of the British public believe that increased taxes on alcohol goes towards helping people who misuse alcohol, according to new research by Drinkers’ Voice released today.