Duty-free shopping to be reintroduced on EU trips in event of no-deal Brexit
Duty-free shopping is set to make a return if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, chancellor Sajid Javid will announce later today.
Brits travelling to EU countries after a no-deal Brexit will be able to buy alcohol and tobacco without duty being applied in the UK, due to the lifting of EU regulations.
“As we prepare to leave the EU, I’m pleased to be able to back British travellers,” said Javid.
“We want people to enjoy their hard-earned holidays and this decision will help holidaymakers’ cash go that little bit further,” he added.
Holiday makers will no longer have to pay excise duty on alcohol or tobacco bought when leaving the UK, while a new option for them to purchase limited amounts of the products at duty-free shops in Europe will be introduced.
Travellers will also still be able to purchase and bring home unlimited amounts of alcohol and cigarettes in Europe as long as they paid duty in the country of purchase in the event of no deal, the government said.
There had been calls from the travel industry to reintroduce duty-free post-Brexit, which had stopped with the introduction of the EU Single Market. Duty-free shopping is already permitted for those travelling to non-EU countries.
Main image credit: Getty