UK EXCISE FREEZE

Last month the UK Government announced a freeze on all alcohol duty until at least August next year. ADA and SCA wrote to the Treasurer advising him of the developments and pointing him to the implications for the Australian industry. We said there are clear parallels with the situation our businesses are currently confronting in Australia. Spirits excise in Australia has risen by a total of 12.5% in under two years, from $88.91 to $100.05 per litre of alcohol. We asked him to intervene by freezing CPI increases on spirits for the remainder of this Parliament, to take effect before the next CPI increase in February.