The UK government is too influenced by supermarkets and the drinks industry, according to a new report issued by MPs.

[Roy Hersh]

I hope this is not where the "Moderation in Wine" movement is heading!

http://www.decanter.com/news/293664.html

[Glenn E.]

Heh, I skipped right through the article to the video at the bottom: How to Analyse Wine Color with Steven Spurrier.

What made it extra fun was that he used a 20-yr old Madeira to demonstrate color in an older white wine, and a Ferreira Duque de Braganca 20 Year Old Tawny to demonstrate color in an older red wine.

I think Roy may have posted a link to that video before, but here it is again if you want to skip straight to it:

http://www.decanter.com/specials/291796.html

But back on topic, I think a "tax" on alcohol content makes sense even though it would hit Port harder than red wine. It might even help reverse Parkerization!

[Eric Menchen]

Now who issued the report? Aren't they part of the UK gov't too?

A tax based on alcohol percentage is an interesting concept, but would be a pain for small producers like brewpubs. What is the alcohol percentage of that five barrel batch? You can estimate based on hydrometer and/or refractometer readings, but it takes a lab analysis to get an authoritative answer.

[Derek T.]

A tax based on alcohol percentage is an interesting concept

We've already got that! The current rates of Duty on alcohol in the UK can be found here.

[Eric Menchen]

And I see there are provisions for small producers to reduce the rates, and it appears that a.b.v. estimating methods are allowed as long as you have them lab checked once a year.

[Andy Velebil]

A tax based on alcohol percentage is an interesting concept, but would be a pain for small producers like brewpubs. What is the alcohol percentage of that five barrel batch? You can estimate based on hydrometer and/or refractometer readings, but it takes a lab analysis to get an authoritative answer.

We have that here in the US as well. The wine industry pays different tax rates based on the alcohol percentages of a given wine, beer, etc.

[Eric Menchen]

The wine industry pays different tax rates based on the alcohol percentages of a given wine, beer, etc.

Beer does not, at least at the federal level. The federal tax is $7/barrel if you produce up to 60,000 barrels. If you produce more than 60,000, you pay $7 for the first 60,000, then $18 per barrel after that up to 2,000,000 barrels. If you produce more than 2,000,000 barrels, the tax is still $18 per, but you don't get the low rate on the first 60,000. A growing craft brewery will size their equipment to carry them up to 60,000 barrels. After that the economics change and you have to rethink your operations. A.b.v. never figures into the equation.

I do see that wine is subject to different rates as you mention. All here:
http://www.ttb.gov/tax_audit/atftaxes.shtml

[Andy Velebil]

opps, I thought they used to clasify it differently based on alcohol content and that was why some are listed as beer and some are listed as malt liquor. thanks for the correction.