Legislation - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Migration policies must address hospitality sector

Published: 04 June, 2024

Ahead of the 4 July general election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to reduce the number of migrants each year under a new Conservative government.

Visitor Levy in Scotland delayed until 2026 at the earliest

Published: 30 May, 2024

The Visitor Levy Bill, passed on Tuesday (28 June) by the Scottish Parliament, concludes a decade-long debate on whether councils should have the authority to introduce a visitor levy or tourist tax. The Bill empowers councils to consider and potentially implement such a levy, although it won't come into effect until 2026 at the earliest.

UK drinks trade reacts to surprise July general election

Published: 23 May, 2024

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a surprise general election on July 4 has stirred significant reactions within the UK drinks trade.

UK's Deposit Return Scheme faces 2027 Delay

Published: 26 April, 2024

Efforts to align the UK's bottle deposit and return scheme (DRS) across all four nations have hit a snag, with an anticipated launch pushed back to 2027, marking a four-year extension from the original timeline.

Charity ordered to pay legal costs in Dry January trademark dispute

Published: 23 April, 2024

A brewing company has won a legal battle against Alcohol Change UK (ACUK), the charity behind the annual alcohol abstention campaign ‘Dry January’. The dispute arose when ACUK attempted to extend its trademark to cover sales of products such as low-alcohol beers.

Statutory Pubs Code to be introduced in Scotland

Published: 12 April, 2024

The Scottish government has announced legislation to improve the rights of tied pub tenants.

Fines loom for businesses yet to submit packaging data WSTA warns

Published: 10 April, 2024

The WSTA has issued a warning to hundreds of businesses ahead of May’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) deadline.

Government to support SMEs in energy disputes

Published: 08 April, 2024

The government has announced it will support British businesses to settle energy disputes.

Australia welcomes removal of Chinese wine tariffs

Published: 28 March, 2024

The Chinese Commerce Ministry has confirmed that China will end three years of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Australian wine from March 29.

Government announces ‘very positive’ apprenticeship changes

Published: 18 March, 2024

The government has today (18 March) announced a series of apprenticeship reforms which will benefit SMEs and the workers they employ within the hospitality sector.

Trade and national press divided on duty

Published: 07 March, 2024

Taking a glass-half-full approach, much of the right-wing press applauded Jeremy Hunt’s extension of the alcohol duty freeze till February 2025, described as a ‘victory for drinkers’ up and down the country by one tabloid.

WSTA makes ‘last-ditch plea’ for duty cut

Published: 01 March, 2024

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) along with over 100 UK wine and spirit producers, retailers and hospitality businesses have called on the government to cut duty in a ‘last-ditch plea’ ahead of the Budget announcement on 6 March.

Tipping legislation scrutinised in hospitality webinar

Published: 12 February, 2024

Complying with the new legislation on the allocation of tips in the hospitality sector was the hot topic in a live industry webinar held last week, organised by technology provider Access Hospitality.

Trade divided on MUP increase

Published: 09 February, 2024

The minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in Scotland will rise from 50p to 65p, Holyrood has announced.

Analysis: Pints fail to impress

Published: 19 January, 2024

The government’s decision to allow the use of imperial measures to sell wine has been met with a lukewarm reaction, finds James Bayley.

Portman Group releases label guidance for ‘Alcohol Alternatives’

Published: 17 January, 2024

Alcohol labelling regulators, The Portman Group, has released new guidance for ‘Alcohol Alternative’ products, defined as 0.5% abv or below.

Government consumes 1,400 bottles of wines and spirits between 2020-22

Published: 12 January, 2024

The UK government wine cellar has belatedly released its bi-annual report, revealing that 1,433 bottles of wine and spirits stock were consumed between 2020-2022, when the nation was subject to on-again, off-again Covid restrictions.

New wine label reforms take effect

Published: 02 January, 2024

As of yesterday (1 January 2024), several new wine reforms introduced by the government have taken effect, including the removal of importer addresses from wine labels.