Setback in beer

duty battle

THE COURT of Appeal yesterday refused to refer the brewer Shepherd Neame's fight against recent beer duty increases to the European Court of Justice. The Kent-based brewer claimed the increases were incompatible with European law and sought to win a reversal of an earlier High Court decision upholding the increases in duty. The trade director Jonathan Neame said the brewer would seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords.