Wetherspoon could stop selling Prosecco and Champagne – and the pub chain’s boss is blaming the EU
Higher EU taxes on bubbly could mean the end of Prosecco and Champagne at the pub chain
WETHERSPOON'S boss has threatened to stop selling Prosecco and Champagne if Brexit negotiations go badly.
The pub chain could remove bubbly from the bar if the EU imposes higher taxes on fizz after the UK leaves the European Union.
Boss Tim Martin hinted he could instead look for alternatives from outside the European Union.
Speaking as the chain released its half year results, which reported a 20.6 per cent rise in profits to £62million before tax, Mr Martin said: "In almost all cases there are suitable, and often excellent, alternatives to EU products available elsewhere.
"In fact, the biggest danger for EU producers is that UK consumers take umbrage at what they see as the overbearing behaviour of EU negotiators, and decide to favour products which originate elsewhere."
The Wetherspoon boss called on MPs to eliminate these tariffs in 2019 when we leave the EU.
To illustrate his point he gave the example of his relationship with Kopparberg Cider.
He said: "Wetherspoon is one of the biggest customers, or possibly the biggest customer, of the excellent Swedish cider-maker Kopparberg.
"If trade barriers were imposed, so as to make Kopparberg uneconomic, then Wetherspoon could switch to UK suppliers or those from elsewhere in the world."
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"The same principle applies to thousands of EU imports including Prosecco, Champagne and many wines and spirits."
Known for being a staunch advocate of the Leave campaign, Tim Martin has previously printed and distributed half a million pro-Brexit beer mats attacking George Osborne's stance on the EU referendum.
He added: "Most economists who criticise Brexit use hypothetical arguments, but, in the real world, the UK can eliminate import taxes, improving living standards and simplifying the Byzantine tax system – both of these factors will improve the outlook for consumers and businesses in the UK."
The pound jumped to a one-month high yesterday, following the news that Britain and the EU had agreed to transition Brexit deal.
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