June 8 , 2005: Euro-MP Robert Sturdy welcomes
plans for fairer booze cruise laws
New booze cruise legislation
approved by Conservative MEPs in the European Parliament today
will remove the threat of heavy handed intimidation from customs
staff which has caused misery to many honest cross-channel shoppers.
This
follows proposals from the European Commission to abolish guidelines
on the amounts of tobacco and alcohol that consumers can bring
into their own country for their own use. From now on the burden
of proof will rest with HM Customs and Excise who will have to
prove that travellers are bringing in goods for commercial sale.
Mr
Sturdy welcomed the new proposals – approved today by
the European Parliament and they will now be passed on to the Council
of Ministers for ratification.
He said it was a vote for common
sense and would enable shoppers to travel freely, as well as purchase
large amounts for personal use, particularly special occasions.
“Our
own heavy taxation on alcohol and tobacco forces consumers to shop
in other countries for these items. Many people go abroad to buy
drinks for weddings and parties. In a single market consumers have
the freedom to do this without being treated in a heavy handed
way by officious Customs staff. However, we must remain vigilant
in order to ensure that smugglers who sell these goods on for profit
are stopped.
The present guidelines have allowed Customs staff
to cause misery to innocent shoppers who have had their cars impounded.
