Stena aims to reintroduce ‘booze cruise’

STENA Line is “preparing for the return of duty free” – which could revive the Holyhead booze cruise.

Irish daytrippers were a regular sight in Holyhead during the 1980s and 90s, shops and pubs benefiting while visitors took advantage of duty-free sales onboard.

It came to an end in 1999 when the EU scrapped the sale of tax-free alcohol, tobacco and perfume while travelling between member states.

But the UK Government has said British passengers travelling to EU countries will be able to take advantage of duty-free shopping from January 1.

The Irish Government also last week confirmed travellers from Ireland to the UK are set to enjoy duty and tax-free purchases at ports and airports from January 1. It came after a push from the Irish Duty Free Alliance, which said it was able to show the clear benefits of duty and tax free sales to UK passengers.

A Stena Line spokesman said: “We are preparing for the return of duty free on our services from January 1. There will be significant savings for our customers.”

The ferry operator is preparing a new price list. It is understood many items will have prices more than halved.

There could be major benefits for the ferry companies and Holyhead with an increase in passenger numbers. Alun Roberts, of Môn Communities First, has previously said: “If you speak to some shop owners in the town, they will tell you we never recovered from the loss of footfall when duty-free sales were scrapped.”