UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak budget to help the wine business

The UK government's budget this week was good for the wine trade, no duty rises, extensions on VAT and grants to help business to re-open.

All alcohol duties frozen.

The reduced 5% VAT rate will continue until 30 September, this excludes alcohol but does include food. In October the rate steps-up to 12.5% for another six months before rising to its normal 20%.

Hospitality and leisure businesses can receive grants of up to £18,000, to help them re-open.

Business rate holiday is extended until the end of June. This is big bonus for restaurants, pubs and leisure facilities, who were forced to close, as they will get a lower rate for the next 9 months.

Furloughed employees will continue to receive 80% of their salary until the end of September 2021. But business will be required to pay 10% from July, then 20% for the final two weeks.