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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Owen Hughes

Stena Line says duty free back on Wales to Ireland ferry routes for first time in over 20 years


Duty free is set to return on ferry routes between Wales and Ireland for the first time in more than 20 years on Friday. 

The end of the Brexit transition period will see duty free make a come back on January 1.

Duty free had come to an end in 1999 when the EU scrapped the sale of tax-free alcohol, tobacco and perfume while travelling between member states.

But this is set to change when the UK exits the transition period on Friday.

Stena Line today said: "Duty Free is back in our onboard shops from this Friday, on our vessels sailing between Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

"We've built new retail areas, brought forward refurbishments and expanded our retail offering."

Stena sails between Holyhead and Dublin, and Fishguard and Rosslare.

Stena Estrid at the Port of Holyhead and due to go to Dublin (David Powell / Daily Post Wales)

UK Government has said that British passengers travelling to EU countries will be able to take advantage of duty-free shopping from January 2021.

This means that passengers will be able to buy duty-free alcohol and tobacco products, where available, in British ports, airports, and international train stations, and aboard ships, trains and planes.

The Irish Government also confirmed travellers from Ireland to the UK are set to enjoy duty and tax free purchases at ports and airports from 1 January.

A Stena Line spokesman said: "There will be significant savings for our customers."

The UK Government gave these examples for the reduction in prices. 

  • £2.23 cheaper for a 75cl bottle of wine.
  •  
  • £2.86 cheaper for a 75cl bottle of Champagne or Prosecco.
  •  
  • £2.28 cheaper for six 50cl cans of 4% ABV beer.
  •  
  • £11.50 cheaper for a 1l bottle of 40% ABV spirits.

The new inbound limits before duty kicks in will be 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still wine, four litres of spirits or nine litres of sparkling wine, fortified wine or any alcoholic beverage less than 22% ABV.

There will be a limit of 200 cigarettes.

 
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