Tory call to abolish discriminatory EU duty on a dram
Posted, May 23, 2007 @ 16:00
Minimum rates of excise duty on booze should be abolished, says Conservative MEP. Booze duties are for Britain alone.
Strasbourg 23 May -- Scotch whisky and beer drinkers lose out to wine buffs because of the so-called 'minimum excise duties on alcoholic beverages'. The law, which is superfluous red tape, must be abolished says John Purvis, Conservative MEP. The duties (approx 4p a pint and £1 per bottle of whisky) are supported by Gordon Brown because they attempt to force countries with low rates of excise duty to increase them closer to rates in high tax countries such as the UK so as to reduce incentives to bring booze home under single market rules.
Ahead of the vote on the Lulling Report today (Wednesday) at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Purvis said: "Minimum rates don't apply to wine because of French lobbying, but they do apply to beer and spirits. This is especially unfair to Scotch Whisky drinkers who pay the highest minimum rates.
"Conservatives want tax competition and free movement of goods. These excise duty rates are out of date, serve no useful purpose and should be abolished."