WSTA’s Miles Beale on how a united drinks industry can achieve its goals

Frustrated. Yes. Angry. A bit. Fed up. No. Motivated. Yes. Galvanised. Absolutely. That about sums up the feelings and mood of Miles Beale as he sat down with The Buyer’s Richard Siddle this month for an in-depth interview about both what he sees are the drinks industry’s biggest challenges, particularly with a government seemingly unwilling to even talk about what its difficulties are, but also the huge opportunities he thinks the sector as a whole has yet to grasp. He also sets out, in the first part of an in-depth interview, why he feels reinvigorated in his role as head of the Wine & Spirits Trade Association , despite the recent duty hikes and legislative setbacks, and how it is better equipped than ever to work with and listen to the needs of its members to ensure it has the right policies, strategy and membership services to lead the industry forward in the years to come.