British shoppers will soon be able to buy cut-price alcohol and cigarettes from the Continent without leaving home because of a European Court of Justice ruling expected this week.
This will allow goods to be delivered anywhere in the EU with duty only paid in the country of origin, which is often a fraction of that in Britain.
Several European countries charge no duty on wine while 200 cigarettes in Latvia cost only £7.20, a saving of about £43.
Wine merchants based in mainland Europe are already clamouring to set up Internet and telephone-ordering services.
Britain levies the EU's second-highest rate of excise duty on both wine and spirits, as well as having Europe's most expensive cigarettes.
The Sunday Telegraph 12/11/06 pages 1 & 14
