Sales of Buckfast have risen by almost £1 million a year despite bosses increasing the price.

 

New figures show the controversial tonic wine, made by Benedictine monks in Devon, continues to fly off the shelves.

Turnover for J Chandler & Company, which bottles and distributes the wine, rose to £38.27m in 2013-14 from £37.4 million in 2012-13.

The firm made pre-tax profits of £2.1 million in the period up to March 31 last year, which was slightly down from the previous year's figure of £2.7 million, due to higher wine prices.

The directors of the company said they had to hike the price of the tipple because of alcohol duty increases. A bottle of Buckfast costs in the region of £7.

The accounts also show the company made £102,249 of charitable donations in the year, which included £25,000 given to Macmillan Cancer Support and £20,000 to the Accord Hospice.

In the annual accounts, the directors of the company said: "The results for the year and the financial position at the year end were considered satisfactory by the directors who expect relative stability of sales in the future despite difficult trading conditions."

The company also donated £15,000 to Glasgow homeless charity The Marie Trust and £20,000 to a guide dogs charity.

The Scottish Labour party have called for drinks with high alcohol and caffeine contents, such as Buckfast, to be banned.

The wine has consistently been linked with anti-social behaviour and violence in Scotland.

In 2013, it was revealed Buckfast had been linked to almost 7,000 crimes in Scotland over the last three years.

Offences involving the drink included attempted murder, assaults with weapons and sexual attacks.