British Booze Cruisers' rights defended by Duff

12.52.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Jun 2005

Members of the European Parliament today defended the right of British tourists to bring home cheap cigarettes and alcohol from their holidays in the EU.

Many UK shoppers who have been accused of smuggling have had their goods confiscated at UK ports. In some cases people who have been accused of smuggling have had their cars impounded and even crushed.

The report adopted by the European Parliament insists that the burden of proof should rest with customs officials, rather than the individual having to prove the goods were for personal use.

Andrew Duff Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England said "Some families returning from day trips to continental Europe have had their car impounded by UK customs officials for having large quantities of cigarettes or alcohol in their boot, despite it being for personal use. Often there has been no compensation and significant distress has been caused by having to make their way home without their car.

"Everyone understands the need to fight smuggling, but shoppers should not be put off buying goods anywhere in Europe because government policy leads to shoppers being unfairly treated by heavy-handed customs officials.

"It has become a well known fact the UK authorities are amongst those who are the most stringent in the interpretation of these guidelines.

"This result is great news for anyone who occasionally pops over to the Continent and takes advantage of cheaper prices".

Ends

Notes:

1 The right to purchase tobacco and alcohol abroad for "non-commercial" use was agreed by EU governments in 1992 as part of the opening up of the European single market.

2 Travellers' right to buy tobacco and alcohol abroad - When private individuals buy products subject to excise duty (such as tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) for private use in a Member State and then transport these products to another Member State, the excise duties on those goods must be paid in the Member State where they are bought. In other words, no excise duties should be paid in the

Member State to which they are then taken. This includes alcohol and tobacco products for personal consumption or intended as gifts. This is stipulated in Article 8 of Directive 92/12/EEC, agreed unanimously by Member States in the EU's Council of Ministers in 1992.