WSTA: Brexit could see ‘resurgence of alcohol smugglers’

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned that UK ports could face severe delays and gridlocks that could prompt a resurgence of alcohol smugglers if plans to ensure frictionless borders before the UK leaves the EU are not put in place.

Post-Brexit chaos at UK ports could result in a resurgence of alcohol smuggling, say the WSTA

The warning comes days before Prime Minister Teresa May plans to trigger article 50, on 29 March, which will kickstart negotiations for the UK to leave the European Union.

As the UK grows ever closer to parting ways with the European Union, the WSTA’s chief executive Miles Beale has implored the government to help avoid a “cliff-edge” situation at UK ports to ensure the continued rapid transit of goods into the UK.

“There must be clear and workable mechanisms in place to allow cross-border trade of wine and spirits from the moment we leave the EU,” he said. “Anything else will result in huge delays at the ports leading to backlogs and gridlock. We must do everything we can to prevent Britain turning into a lorry park.

“If this isn’t addressed it will mean misery on the roads for all and will also mean that wine and spirits will not get onto the shelves. If this happens it is not unrealistic to expect an influx of bootleggers looking to find more efficient ways of getting alcohol into the UK.”

The UK wine trade is worth £17.3 billion, with the UK importing 1.8bn bottles of wine into Britain worth £2.8bn each year. 55% of this volume, the equivalent of 1bn bottles of wine, comes from the EU.

Currently wine being imported into or out of the UK is not subject to extra checks by customers and can be moved through easily, safeguarded by EU standards and the terms of the single market.

Once the UK leaves the EU, all wine entering and leaving the country will be subject to customs controls, which the WSTA say will double the volume of cargo subject to inspection at British ports. Dover alone handles on average 290 lorries per hour, carrying a range of goods, which works out at one every 12.4 seconds.

A ‘surge of opportunist bootleggers’

WSTA members have already voiced their concerns that if no practical plan is put in place before the UK leaves the EU, post-Brexit chaos and red tape could bring customs to a standstill and turn key ports and surrounding roads into “lorry parks”.

“If we find ourselves in the nightmare scenario of UK ports shutting down as lorries are held in stacking chaos then goods will not be getting to market,” said WSTA customs expert David Richardson.

“This will inevitably lead to bootlegging. The UK is the most important country in the global wine and spirit trade and criminals will find alternative methods of getting alcohol in. It’s big business for Britain and it’s vital government maintains the free flow of trade between the UK and Europe and reassures industry with an early solution.”

Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter MP added: “Government need to be doing more to address the concerns of the industries like wine importers who rely on the smooth flow of trade with the EU. Without frictionless trade we could see industry grinding to a halt and some of the 270 thousand people employed by the UK wine industry could find themselves out of a job.”

“If a resolution is not promptly in place experts warn this could be followed by a surge of opportunist bootleggers who the WSTA believe will find alternative ways of getting goods to market.”