Wetherspoon Could 'Stop Selling Prosecco And Champagne', Boss Says

Bad news for lovers of cheap fizz - Wetherspoon's boss has said he may be forced to stop selling Prosecco and Champagne if Brexit negotiations don't go well.

CEO Tim Martin said the chain may remove bottles of fizz from pubs if the EU places higher tax on the booze once the UK has left the European Union, the Sun reports.

Martin has said he may look into non-EU alternatives instead; so in a few years time you might have a new favourite sparkling wine from...erm...the UK?

via GIPHY

He said: "In almost all cases there are suitable, and often excellent, alternatives to EU products available elsewhere.

"In fact, the biggest danger for EU producers is that UK consumers take umbrage at what they see as the overbearing behaviour of EU negotiators, and decide to favour products which originate elsewhere."

He made the comments as his chain released its half-year results, which saw a 20.6 percent rise in profits - bringing its pre-tax profits to £62million.

He's urging MPs to ensure that 'unfair tariffs' aren't imposed on booze from Europe.

According to The Drinks Business, Martin used a hypothetical example of his relationship with delicious cider producers Kopparberg, saying: "Wetherspoon is one of the biggest customers, or possibly the biggest customer, of the excellent Swedish cider-maker Kopparberg.

"If trade barriers were imposed, so as to make Kopparberg uneconomic, then Wetherspoon could switch to UK suppliers or those from elsewhere in the world.

via GIPHY

"In this case, the principal losers in a trade war would be the inhabitants of a small town in Sweden, where Kopparberg is produced, rather than the UK economy.

"Unfortunately for the Swedes, the EU negotiators, unlike those of the UK, are not subject to judgement at the ballot box, so Kopparberg's influence on the outcome may be minimal."

I reckon this is the perfect excuse to get to a Wetherspoon pub and drink as much as we can, just in case it goes for good.

Sources: The Sun; The Drinks Business

Featured Image Credit: J D Wetherspoon

Topics: UK News, Prosecco, Wetherspoons

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19