This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6175646.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| EU alcohol ruling cheers traders | EU alcohol ruling cheers traders |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Retailers have expressed relief at a European Court ruling against allowing consumers to buy drinks and cigarettes online at lower duties from abroad. | Retailers have expressed relief at a European Court ruling against allowing consumers to buy drinks and cigarettes online at lower duties from abroad. |
| The decision means shoppers buying cheaper goods abroad will still have to accompany the goods back themselves. | The decision means shoppers buying cheaper goods abroad will still have to accompany the goods back themselves. |
| Shopkeepers said a different ruling allowing an internet bargain hunt would have hit them hard, while the Treasury said it was a victory for common sense. | Shopkeepers said a different ruling allowing an internet bargain hunt would have hit them hard, while the Treasury said it was a victory for common sense. |
| The ruling means the "booze cruise" to Europe is no longer under threat. | The ruling means the "booze cruise" to Europe is no longer under threat. |
| The UK already loses duty of more than £1bn per year owing to such trips. | The UK already loses duty of more than £1bn per year owing to such trips. |
| And it would have lost a lot more if the ruling had gone the other way and more shoppers had turned to buying low-duty goods online. | And it would have lost a lot more if the ruling had gone the other way and more shoppers had turned to buying low-duty goods online. |
| Q&A: Buying from low-duty countries Reaction to EU tax ruling | Q&A: Buying from low-duty countries Reaction to EU tax ruling |
| The decision will disappoint shoppers hoping to stock up from home on alcohol and cigarettes for Christmas, but it has cheered retailers. | The decision will disappoint shoppers hoping to stock up from home on alcohol and cigarettes for Christmas, but it has cheered retailers. |
| Ken Patel, national spokesman for Retailers Against Smuggling, and a Leicester retailer, said it was a critical decision for corner shops because tobacco sales are a lifeline. | Ken Patel, national spokesman for Retailers Against Smuggling, and a Leicester retailer, said it was a critical decision for corner shops because tobacco sales are a lifeline. |
| "To have lost these valuable sales plus the add-on purchases a shopper often makes at the same time - like a daily paper or a pint of milk - would have been unsustainable for many retailers," he said. | "To have lost these valuable sales plus the add-on purchases a shopper often makes at the same time - like a daily paper or a pint of milk - would have been unsustainable for many retailers," he said. |
| The Wine and Spirit Trade Association also said it was pleased. | The Wine and Spirit Trade Association also said it was pleased. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY So much for a free and open market with no borders Stuart Paterson, Dunstable href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4794&edition=1&ttl=20061123081756" class="">Send us your comments Judges at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that "only products acquired and transported personally by private individuals are exempt from excise duty in the member state of importation". | |
| And in response, the head of the European Commission in the UK, Reijo Kemppinen, said: "This is a retrograde step for the European citizen's freedom to shop." | And in response, the head of the European Commission in the UK, Reijo Kemppinen, said: "This is a retrograde step for the European citizen's freedom to shop." |
| Armchair shopping | Armchair shopping |
| The case was brought by a Dutch wine club who objected to being charged duty on a lorry-load of wine delivered from France. | The case was brought by a Dutch wine club who objected to being charged duty on a lorry-load of wine delivered from France. |
| EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE Composed of senior judges from the 25 EU statesRules on disputes over EU treaties and other EU lawClarifies points of European lawHears actions brought by individuals seeking damages from EU institutionsBased in Luxembourg | EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE Composed of senior judges from the 25 EU statesRules on disputes over EU treaties and other EU lawClarifies points of European lawHears actions brought by individuals seeking damages from EU institutionsBased in Luxembourg |
| The UK had stood to lose more than most countries by a change in the law, whereas a country like France would have benefited from the extra business. | The UK had stood to lose more than most countries by a change in the law, whereas a country like France would have benefited from the extra business. |
| But this may be a short term reprieve for the UK Treasury because planned draft legislation could reverse this decision in the future. | But this may be a short term reprieve for the UK Treasury because planned draft legislation could reverse this decision in the future. |
| Deborah Arnott, director of the tobacco campaigning charity ASH, said a change in the law would have been "disastrous" for the health of Britons. | Deborah Arnott, director of the tobacco campaigning charity ASH, said a change in the law would have been "disastrous" for the health of Britons. |
| Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy said: "Any other ruling would have caused anarchy and chaos, as the UK market would have been flooded by cheap booze and cigarettes." | Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy said: "Any other ruling would have caused anarchy and chaos, as the UK market would have been flooded by cheap booze and cigarettes." |
| A P&O Ferries spokeswoman said the company had been ready to adapt its business to a change in the law, but would now carry on as normal. | A P&O Ferries spokeswoman said the company had been ready to adapt its business to a change in the law, but would now carry on as normal. |
| Shoppers in Calais said the ruling was "sensible" | Shoppers in Calais said the ruling was "sensible" |
| Colin Poole, who made the trip from Northamptonshire to shop in Calais, told BBC News he thought the ruling was sensible, given the large amounts of alcohol consumed in the UK. | Colin Poole, who made the trip from Northamptonshire to shop in Calais, told BBC News he thought the ruling was sensible, given the large amounts of alcohol consumed in the UK. |
| "Responsible people come over three times a year. We top up and can make enough savings to pay for the trip and pay for a meal. For us it's a good day out." | "Responsible people come over three times a year. We top up and can make enough savings to pay for the trip and pay for a meal. For us it's a good day out." |
| But Conservative MEP Richard Ashworth, who campaigns for the rights of cross-channel shoppers, said the EU should go further and relax the limits on how much they can bring back to the UK tax-free. | But Conservative MEP Richard Ashworth, who campaigns for the rights of cross-channel shoppers, said the EU should go further and relax the limits on how much they can bring back to the UK tax-free. |
| Duty on a bottle of wine varies from nothing in 13 EU countries, to 2.1 euros per 75cl in Ireland. | Duty on a bottle of wine varies from nothing in 13 EU countries, to 2.1 euros per 75cl in Ireland. |