WSTA pleads for reprieve amid rising costs
A new WSTA brochure has revealed the scale and struggles of an industry generating over £76bn annually. Imports, exports and jobs hang in the balance as businesses warn of unsustainable burdens.
In its newly released Wine and Spirit Trade in Focus, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) offers a timely and compelling portrait of one of the UK’s most economically significant, yet underappreciated, industries. The publication lands just ahead of the Autumn Budget, seeking to educate policymakers about a sector responsible for £76.3 billion in economic activity and 412,000 jobs, 62% of which are in hospitality.
But the tone is far from celebratory. “As wine and spirit businesses lick their wounds after a brutal onslaught,” says WSTA chief executive Miles Beale, “it is crucial that we make those who have influence understand and support our trade.” Beale’s warning is pointed: unless there is relief from rising taxes and regulatory costs, more businesses will fold, consumers will continue to pay more and jobs will disappear.
A global trading powerhouse
Despite headwinds, the UK remains a titan of the international drinks trade. In 2023, the country imported the equivalent of 1.7 billion bottles of wine, making it the second largest wine importer in the world by both volume and value. On the flip side, 1.5 billion bottles of spirits left British shores, securing the UK’s position as the world’s largest spirits exporter.
This global reach underpins the sector’s appeal, not only to consumers but to trading partners, innovators and job seekers. Yet the report points to growing fragility, arguing that such success stories should not be taken for granted.
Economic heft meets regulatory fatigue
The figures are stark: £33 billion generated by wine, £43 billion from spirits. In total, the industry contributes the same economic weight as agriculture, forestry and fishing combined, in terms of employment. Yet this contribution comes under increasing strain from policy decisions. A new duty regime, recent tax hikes and a glass packaging levy have pushed many to the brink.
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The report pulls no punches in describing the situation: “Historically punishing” and “excessively large” are phrases used to characterise the new tax burdens. Behind these adjectives lie very real consequences, staff redundancies, price increases and widespread uncertainty. For an industry long celebrated for its conviviality and craftsmanship, the mood has darkened.
Innovation still bubbling beneath the surface
Not all is doom and gloom. One of the report’s key messages is that the UK drinks sector remains a leader in environmental innovation. Whether in packaging, logistics or energy use, producers are investing in sustainable practices even as margins shrink. The WSTA is keen to ensure that this green momentum is supported, not stifled, by government policy.
The WSTA’s latest brochure offers a detailed snapshot of an industry that continues to punch above its weight internationally, yet faces mounting domestic pressures. The figures speak clearly enough, economic contribution, employment, and global reach — but the underlying message is one of frustration as much as it is of pride.
Whether the government listens or continues to squeeze a sector already close to breaking point remains to be seen.
The Wine and Spirit Trade in Focus is available for download on the WSTA website.
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