ACS has called on the Chancellor to shut down the black market in alcohol and tobacco in its submission ahead of the 2014 Budget.
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “The level of alcohol and tobacco duty fraud in the UK needs to be addressed immediately through adequate enforcement on both the local and national level. By increasing in alcohol and tobacco duty, the Chancellor will only drive customers away from legitimate retail and toward the illicit trade.
“We welcomed the registration of wholesalers in the Autumn Statement, but this legislation must not be subject to delay. Tackling duty fraud must be a central part of the Government’s Alcohol Strategy to ensure that it is seen as a priority across Government.”
ACS has called on the Chancellor to:
- Ensure the swift implementation of the wholesaler registration scheme and make tackling duty fraud a leading part of the Government’s alcohol strategy
- Freeze all alcohol and tobacco duty rates at their current level
In its submission to the Chancellor, ACS has also called for the following:
- The setting of the National Minimum Wage to continue to be an evidence-based and depoliticised process led by the Low Pay Commission. ACS research has shown that 87% of retailers have reduced staff hours within their business as a result of increases in employment costs, and called for a freeze in the NMW in its submission to the Low Pay Commission
- Establishing an independent review to examine the economic and social impact on non-domestic rates and consider options for reform, with a view to developing a new system in time for the 2017 revaluation. The Chancellor announced a range of measures to reduce the burden on business rates in the Autumn Statement, including a 2% cap on rates increases in 2014-2015 and a £1000 reduction for small businesses
- Government to demonstrate its commitment to ‘town centre first’ planning policy by creating a quarterly track of where new planning developments are located. ACS commissioned research in 2013 revealed that 76% of the retail floor space given approval since the new planning laws came into force is outside of town centres
