UK: WineGB urges government to remove ‘competitive disadvantage’ ahead of budget

With just two weeks remaining until the autumn Budget, WineGB has called on the UK government to prioritise the English and Welsh wine industry by reducing excise duty and offering targeted support to boost growth. In its Budget submission, WineGB highlights that the UK is one of the few wine-producing countries in Europe that levies excise duty on domestically produced wines. On average, this adds £2.67 to the cost of a bottle for British producers and consumers, putting them at a disadvantage compared to their European counterparts. France for example imposes minimal or no excise duty on home-produced wines, charging only €0.07 on sparkling wines and €0.03 on still wines in 2022. The recent duty increase in August 2023 was the largest in nearly 50 years, with further changes based on abv set to take effect next year. WineGB argues that these reforms disproportionately affect English and Welsh wine producers and have already contributed to a £238 million decline in wine-related ...