Government slashes wine spending

Is it popping the champagne for cheaper drinks?

The Government is spending less on wine to entertain guests at functions, with the average price of its purchased wine falling to $230 per bottle in 2012-13 from $420 in 2011-12.

In response to media enquiries, the Government said today it is an established practice for individual offices and bureaus to buy wine with public funds for function guests. In doing so, they must comply with the Stores & Procurement Regulations.

The expenditure involved, being part of departmental expenses, is subject to audit.

In the past three financial years, the Chief Executive's Office, the offices of the three secretaries of departments, and 12 policy bureaus bought a total of 2,117 bottles of wine costing $671,900, or about $317 a bottle.

Table wines accounted for 99.72% of alcohol purchases, while hard liquor constituted only 0.28%.

Total expenditure on wine purchases in the past financial year was 78% and 80% of that in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The Government said it will continue to follow the principle of frugality and avoid extravagance.