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26th November 2008
We issued the following Press Release today in response to the VAT and duty changes announced by the UK government this week:
Chancellor's tax increase hits English winemakers this Christmas
The vast majority of shoppers will be paying more for wine this Christmas after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, announced that he will raise alcohol
excise duty yet again. But English wine drinkers will still be able to enjoy their favourite tipples from Bookers Vineyard in West Sussex, without paying a single penny more for them. Samantha Linter, Director and
winemaker has decided that Bookers will take a hit on the price for their bottles, without passing the increase onto their customers. Rates of duty for alcohol will be increased by 8 per cent (coinciding with the reduction
in VAT). This will come into force on midnight November 30th 2008. The increase in duty will be maintained despite the VAT rate returning to 17.5 per cent in January 2010. In effect, drinkers will be paying the price this
Christmas for bailing out the economy!
“The 8 per cent rise is the second hike in alcohol duty this year, meaning that the Chancellor will have increased tax on alcohol by a whopping 17%,” said
Linter. “This is hurting consumers when they have very little else to be cheerful about. It is very disappointing that a Government, which claims to act in the interests of many, is punishing hard working
consumers who wish to spend the little cash they do have left on a Christmas drink. We hope that by keeping the prices of our wines down, we’ll help to spread some much needed cheer this Christmas.”
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our team’s fundraising effort at the Steyning Triathlon.
