Festive booze shortage warning

THE UK could face a shortage of alcohol this Christmas.

That is the warning from the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) which said imports are taking five times longer than a year ago.

Bottles of alcohol could be missing from dinner tables this Christmas unless the Government does more to address the HGV driver shortage, a group of 48 wine and spirits companies has warned.

The group has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps telling him companies are still struggling to get drinks to customers and urged ministers to “ease the burden”.

In the letter, signed by major brands, including Moet Hennessy, Pernod Ricard and Campari, they wrote: “Businesses are still struggling, and further action is needed, particularly now in the run up to Christmas – a critical trading period for our sector.”

It added: “This is an urgent issue for our businesses, and it is imperative that Government takes immediate steps to help mitigate the impact of the driver shortages crisis before the Christmas period.”

Daniel Lambert, of Wales’ largest wine importer Daniel Lambert Wines, based in Bridgend, which supplies retailers and supermarkets, said they are right to be very concerned.

“The supermarkets and national retailers plan Christmas as far back as May,” he told BBC Radio Wales.

“We have been experiencing significant problems with supply of wines since Brexit started. The wines that need to be in the UK already, are simply not here and I think we have run out of time to get them into the UK.

“Supermarkets will have all their Christmas stocks in their warehouses by October. This year this simply hasn’t happened due to the fact they have been firefighting all year to actually maintain the demand that they have experienced.

“The supermarkets we work with are currently missing about 35 to 40% of their range, which means that not only do the stores have no stock, the warehouses are defunct of stock. The buyers have been doing their job and put the orders in, but the logistics side of it has fallen apart due to the paperwork that is due to Brexit, Brexit and a bit more Brexit.”

He warned: “It can’t be fixed before Christmas and it is going to get worse. There will be further delays from January 1 when checks start to be carried out at the border.”