Chancellor Alistair Darling should rethink his decision to increase excise duty, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has said.
The organisation said the move by the government to reduce the excise increase on spirits to 4% from 8% is a welcome one, but this should be applicable to wine as well.
According to the WSTA, most wine buyers will end up paying more for their wine under the changes announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling in his pre-Budget statement.
Jeremy Beadles, chief executive, said: “We welcome the admission that the tax change was wrong because it meant consumers paying more, but if that’s true for spirits it’s also true for wine.
“It is baffling that the government should think that what’s right for spirits is wrong for wine. The Chancellor must remove this anomaly as a matter of urgency.”
The Scotch Whisky Association has also welcomed the decision by the government.
Earlier this week, the WSTA said 82% of shoppers buy wine that is £8 or less, meaning they will be out of pocket after the tax changes.
