Is it any wonder that alcohol is smuggled into the UK (Smuggled booze leads to premises licence revoked, October 8)?
The UK excise duty is alarmingly high on alcohol (and tobacco but don’t start me on that).
According to the latest figures (dated 18/3/15) for every 70cl of spirits (a normal size bottle) there is £7.26 duty plus 20 per cent VAT.
The average purchase price of a bottle of wine in the UK is £5.50.
Just ten per cent of that cost is the actual wine in the bottle. £2.89 is UK Excise Duty and VAT. The rest is on retailers’ profit and the wine producer (who probably gets the least of all).
If alcohol is imported into the UK from outside the EU, customs duty may also have to be paid in addition to excise duty.
Makes you want to take the pledge.
Dorene Loos
Sutton St James
