70% of the cost of a bottle of Scotch is tax.
any tax rises will unfairly hit consumers who are already facing cost of living increases.
The UK spirits industry has been a national success story over recent years, investing heavily in innovation and growth to back the British economy and support new jobs.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic and its after effects have caused considerable pain to our world renowned hospitality industry, with our iconic national drinks like gin and whisky facing a difficult trading environment due to this historic event.
We believe the Chancellor should use this Budget to:
Support UK spirits by not increasing the duty burden or further increasing the disparity between alcohol categories as we reform the duty system
Press on with wider structural reform of the excise duty regime to make it fairer and simpler
Our supporters include micro businesses and craft distilleries, award-winning producers and internationally renowned brands.
We are also joined by representatives from the hospitality and tourism industries. Members of our Alliance all benefit from the growing popularity of premium British spirits.
Last year, independent research showed spirits generated £13bn for the economy and had an export value of £6 billion– making it the largest food and drink export.
The number of distilleries in the UK has grown over 700 and the industry now supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the UK.
That is why we are asking the Chancellor to deliver on the commitment the Prime Minister made at the 2019 Queen’s Speech to reform the alcohol duty system and to back our great Scotch Whisky and gin producers. Any rise in spirits duty at this Budget will also unfairly penalise British consumers who are facing cost of living rises.
The UK is a proud spirits producing nation.
Our spirits industry is a vital part of the tourism and hospitality sector. We can’t afford to put this great British success story at risk.
That’s why we are asking the Chancellor to continue the reform process of alcohol taxation to make the system fairer and not to raise spirits duty at this Budget which will further discriminate against spirits and unfairly penalise UK consumers who are facing cost of living rises.
