Government reassures licensees over duty stamps

The government has moved to quash fears that licensees may be inadvertently breaking the law when the new duty stamps scheme comes into force next year.

Under the scheme, due to come into effect on January 1 2007, drinks companies must put duty stamps on bottles of spirits with an ABV of 30 per cent or more, contained in bottles of 35cl or above and which are for sale on the UK market.

Some licensees expressed their concern that they may be breaking the law by not having stamps for certain old drinks they may have even inherited, for example old malt whiskies and liquors.

Steve Marquis, licensee of the Blue Bell Inn in Flintshire, Wales, said: "There must be many small pubs with dusty shelves full of those things customers treat themselves to each Christmas, with the bottle sitting there for another year as they don't have a massive turnover in these things but do make them available.

"I cannot prove where or when it was purchased with a massive paper search. Some pubs will have inherited the stock. What then?"

However, HM Revenue & Customs moved to reassure licensees. A HMRC spokesperson said: "As long as they can prove that it is pre October 1st stock with the appropriate documentation then there is nothing to worry about. Also, our officers will take it into account that for some drinks like malt whiskies and liquors it may be difficult to provide documentation.

"We don't want to give the impression that we will be kicking down doors for this. We understandable that some drinks may not have stamps. Our officers will take this into account."