End booze-cruise limits, say MEPs

Alcohol can be much cheaper on the continent

UK drinkers who go to the continent to buy cheap alcohol may soon find it easier to bring back large amounts, thanks to the European Parliament.

MEPs have voted in favour of a proposal to abolish guidelines on the levels of alcohol and tobacco that people can bring back to the UK for personal use.

At present, HM Revenue & Customs can confiscate large purchases if it suspects they are going to be re-sold.

The current guidelines are 90 litres of wine and 110 litres of beer.

If we live in a single market, we should be allowed to take advantage of it without a cloud of suspicion hanging over us John Purvis, Conservative MEP

These personal usage limits - which apply to all member states of the EU and not just the UK - are, however, only advisory.

As the EU is a single market, people can in theory buy as much alcohol and tobacco as they want on a cross-border shopping trip, or so-called 'booze cruise', as long as it is for their personal use.

Black market

The European Commission has already threatened the UK government with court action for being too heavy-handed in its application of the guideline.

In a number of cases people have had their cars impounded, in addition to having their drink confiscated, on their return to Britain from the continent.

In response, the UK Government has argued that such confiscation actions are necessary to prevent the black market sale of alcohol and tobacco.

The MEPs were asked for their opinion as part of the Commission's ongoing consultation process on the matter.

They said the guideline limits are both non-binding and hard to enforce, and therefore should now be scrapped.

'Hateful tax'

Conservative MEP John Purvis welcomed the result of the parliament's vote.

"If we live in a single market, we should be allowed to take advantage of it without a cloud of suspicion hanging over us," he said.

"In 1755 Dr Samuel Johnson described excise as 'a hateful tax'.

"Perhaps he had just returned from Ostend with a year's supply of ready-rubbed and been pulled over by the law."