Letter: Flying gin bottles are a waste of space

Phil Hill
Friday 13 June 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: I have just returned from Chicago clutching my bottle of duty-free gin, labelled "Imported from England".

This must be one of thousands of bottles of spirits that have been needlessly flown across the Atlantic to the US, at considerable expense, only so that people like myself can get a few pounds off the cost of a bottle and then fly it straight back.

Why could I not order the duty-free goods I require as I leave Chicago, who then notify Manchester of what to have ready for me?Or why can't I buy the duty free on arrival into the UK, to pass the time while I am waiting at baggage recall?

The whole system seems to be geared to the needless transportation of duty-free goods all over the world, wasting money, fuel and aircraft hold space, and contributing more to carbon dioxide emissions.

Isn't it about time we introduced some common sense into this arrangement?

PHIL HILL

Leeds

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in