By Gemma Simpson, 23 November 2006 12:05
NEWS
The European Court of Justice has blocked consumers from buying lower-duty alcoholic beverages and cigarettes online from other countries.
The shock decision means 'booze cruises' - where Brits make special trips across the Channel to stock up on cheap drink and ciggies in France - will live on.
The European Court of Justice said in a statement: "Products subject to excise duty purchased by persons who are not authorised warehouse-keepers or registered or non-registered traders and dispatched or transported directly or indirectly by the vendor or on his behalf shall be liable to excise duty in the Member State of destination."
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While bricks-and-mortar retailers will welcome the ruling, the news will no doubt disappointment both e-tailers and online shoppers hoping to stock up on cheap cigarettes and alcohol for the festive season.
Comments
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1. Chris
What a f*****g surprise. Blair and his cronies days are numbered though.
2. Radical Meldrew
Its very worrying, modern legal processes have been hijacked by financial and political motivation at every level.
The law was set up to defend the rights of everyman... from the nobility down to the commoner without exception. Not to protect the rights of the treasury.
There is an underlying malevolence to any system that seeks to relegate "Mr Joe Public" into an underclass who works for both those above and beneath him in the perceived social scale.
Who is the real victim?
3. Paul Weir
I for one am glad that income tax or other taxs won't now need to be increased by £16bn pa to cover the shortfall in tax revenues.
The booze and baccy enthusiasts can still enjoy a trip to the continent.
Imagine the impact on UK retail, the ferries etc - the drinker's saving would just be somebody else's loss.
4. Craig Mitchell
What about all the 'carbon reduction' they are supposed to be aiming for?
This means that in order for people to take advantage of fairer taxation system (rather than our unusual system of 'sin taxes') they have to drive to the ferry terminal and then either take their car across or go as a foot passenger - either way individuals using fuel to transport their own goods rather than using mass distribution systems such as the Royal Mail.
Very green.
I'm in Scotland and it's bad enough that I can't smoke anywhere I now have to drive a thousand miles for a cheap ciggie. Fair enough that other people dont want to share my smoke but my freedom of choice has not only been curtailed but thrown right out the window. Conform or die! What a country.
5. galley slave#41
I wonder what concessions our government had to promise to get such a favorable ruling!!!!!!
6. Stewart Rotherham
If ever there was an "anti-sustainablity" decision this is it.
Let's have lots of people make un-necessary extra trips rather than use public carrier services.
How can we try to reduce the number of miles driven when "the system" behaves like this?
It does show the strength of the government's commitment to green issues!
Viewed from a long way outside the south-east, it must be said that many people up here had hoped that they were going to get the same sort of deals that people in London and the south-east take for granted. No such luck!
7. anonymous
Some strange comments so far - "It's bad enough that I can't smoke anywhere" - so why would you want to buy fags?
Spurious "green" arguments - if sustainablility is your top priority then it's up to you to bite the bullet and pay the taxes not go rushing around the world in order to save a few quid.
If you don't drink or smoke too much the impact on you will be minimal, if you do, why should you expect the rest of the country to help with your health bill?
8. Michelle M
It's a bit out of order. It means that only those that can afford (and have the time) to trek across the boarder to buy cheap alcohol can get it. I see no good reason for it except the government gets more tax from us that way. MERRY CHRISTMAS