PRICE OF SPIRITS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 1

PRICE OF SPIRITS

Imports Up 5d A Nip

An Increase of 5d a nip for imported spirits (whisky, brandy and rum) has been suggested by the committee of the Canterbury Hotel Association as a result of the Increased customs duty imposed by the Government For white spirits (gin, square gin, and vodka) made in New Zealand the recommended increase is 4d.

The monthly meeting of the committee yesterday suggested the following public-bar nip prices:— Imported spirits (whisky, brandy, rum): Is lid (formerly Is 6d). White spirits (gin, vodka, square gin): Is 7d (is 3d). White rum: 2s 3d (is 9d).

For bottle stores, prices suggested are: Whisky £2 Ils 6d (formerly £2); brandy and rum £2 9s (formerly £1 16s 6d); gin £1 18s (£1 10s); vodka and square gin, £2 2s (£1 13s). Mr E. H. Williams, the secretary, said the trade was reluctant to enter into the price increases, but in the suggested new prices the trading margins had been retained. The Canterbury prices recommended are below those recommended by the national executive of the Hotel Association of New Zealand. It has proposed that the nip prices of spirits in public bars should not exceed 2a for whisky, brandy, and rum, and Is 8d for gin, vodka, square gin and schnapps, and these are expected to be the prices adopted by most North Island hotels.