In the summer of 2011 the Group was approached by
representatives of the UK brewing industry concerned that HMRC was
contemplating legislation to address duty fraud which was based on unreliable
data and which might place excessive burdens on the industry without a
proportionate result.
Following the Chairman’s invitation, HMRC’s Deputy Director,
Alcohol, Tobacco and Gambling Taxes attended a meeting on 8 November 2011 to
explain HMRC’s thinking and to answer members’ concerns.
HMRC subsequently announced substantially revised estimates
of the size of beer excise fraud, and on 26 March 2012 published “Alcohol
Fraud”, a consultation document on possible legislative changes. The formal consultation period on this
document ended on 17 July.
