EU may drop drink restrictions

THE European Commission has proposed dropping national restrictions on the purchase and shipping of cheaper beer and wine from low tax countries.

Internal market chief Frits Bolkestein said the proposed changes were needed to ensure the 25 current and soon-to-be EU governments were living up to internal market rules.

“The European Commission wishes to ensure that private individuals and businesses are free to buy and sell goods across borders while safeguarding the member states’ tax revenue.”