Look after your own

WiTh All ThE turmoil surrounding the axed proposed disability cuts in the recent UK budget, it would have been easy to miss the onward march of duty for the wine industry. While real ale and spirit drinkers may have been raising their glasses to the Chancellor, wine drinkers face increases in line with inflation.

The Chancellor may have seen this as a vote winner, supporting local pubs and the emerging micro-brewery industry; however, singling out wine for a rise betrays a fundamental lack of awareness of the industry progress. The English wine industry is developing rapidly and gaining support, nationally and internationally. Most wineries are family-owned small businesses. Failing to extend the same support to them as to other small businesses is a failed opportunity. Charlotte Marples, Brighton