The government has been criticised for trying to sweeten no-deal Brexit with ‘duty free alcohol’ (Picture: Getty Images)

The government has been criticised for ‘misleading the public’ after claiming that spirits and wine bought from the EU would no longer face excise duties in the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

HM Treasury tweeted: ‘Duty-free shopping with the EU is coming back, if we leave without a deal.

‘People travelling to EU countries will be able to buy beer, spirits, wine and tobacco without duty being applied in the UK.’

However, politicians and trade associations have criticised the government for ‘misleading propaganda.’


Anna Soubry MP tweeted: ‘This is wrong. It’s misleading, It’s propaganda, it’s an abuse of impartial civil servants.



‘It’s a waste of tax payers money. If Parliament was sitting MPs would challenge and scrutinise this Government propaganda.

Duty-free shopping with the EU is coming back, if we leave without a deal. People travelling to EU countries will be able to buy beer, spirits, wine and tobacco without duty being applied in the UK. 🍺🍷Read more👇 https://t.co/a46CvaE8lJ pic.twitter.com/uqvzPtoFbO — HM Treasury (@hmtreasury) September 10, 2019

‘They shut down Parliament but they won’t shut us up’.

Critics have pointed out that people travelling to EU countries are already able to buy beer, spirits, wine and tobacco without a duty being levied in the UK.

This is because taxes, including VAT and excise, are included in the price of the product in the country where the product is bought, so no further payments are due in any other EU country, a point alluded to on the EU’s website.

The website goes on to add that ‘there are no limits on what you can buy and take with you when travelling between EU countries, as long as the products purchased are for your own use and not for resale’.

Anna Soubry, described the claim as ‘propoganda’ (Picture: Rex Features)

Critics have pointed out that people travelling to EU countries are already able to buy beer, spirits, wine and tobacco without a duty being levied in the UK (Picture: Getty Images)

The government’s own website on ‘Bringing goods into the UK’ makes a similar point, highlighting that individuals do not pay tax on goods bought in from the EU, ‘as long as you transport them yourself, will use them yourself or give them away as a gift and have paid duty and tax in the country where you bought them’.

In addition, the quantity of goods permitted for import without paying UK taxes would be significantly reduced than what is allowed currently within the EU.

Under current rules, individuals are able to bring in 110 litres of beer, 90 litres of wine and 800 cigarettes without any questions being asked.

For countries outside the EU, the duty free allowance for alcohol is set at 16 litres of Beer and four litres of wine and 200 cigarettes.

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The Wine and Spirit Trade Association said there were ‘much bigger issues which would adversely affect the industry’ in the event of a no deal Brexit, such as the potential introduction of tariffs on wine.

A spokesperson added: ‘So the Government shouldn’t only tinker with duty free allowances for travellers.

‘No ifs, no buts, the Chancellor should go further to back British business and support cash-strapped consumers by cutting duty on wine and on spirits at the next Budget.’

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