I'm not sure where the question was in there because we started with tobacco and ended with wine.
On the issue of the excise tax for domestically produced 100% VQA wines, it was negotiated in 2006 that it would be excise exempt. The federal government brought that in at that time and it benefited the industry. The industry saw very strong growth, particularly in British Columbia, where they have a different regime in terms of the provincial legislation there. They saw a significant increase in business there.
ICB brands, which represent 75% of our domestic sales, do attract federal excise. They do pay excise, including the proportion that is domestically produced, so it's a significant part. We do pay the excise. However, the issue is that right now, we have a negotiated agreement with Europe with regards to the exemption of VQA wines from excise. They have gone on notice and said that, if we go ahead with the increased excise tax and the escalator, tying it to the CPI, they will challenge the exemption for VQA wines.
That will add several dollars to the price of one of my bottles of wine and literally put us out of business. We will not be able to compete. We're competing in a marketplace that has billion-dollar companies located in France, Italy, Spain, and the United States, which want our market. The LCBO is the largest buyer of spirits and alcohol in the world, and those companies really want our business. They have 70% of the market and they want more. They've already told us that they will go up against us and they will file a trade complaint in that regard.