TREASURY TARNISH TO WHISKY’S GLEAMING FESTIVE SALES

TREASURY TARNISH TO WHISKY’S GLEAMING FESTIVE SALES

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION DEMAND OVER WHISKY SOUR

As first footers and revellers toast the New Year, the MP for Scotland’s premier Whisky producing constituency, Angus Robertson, has called on the UK Government to make the introduction of a fair tax regime for the premier product a New Year resolution.

Mr Robertson, whose Moray constituency contains more than half of all malt whisky distilleries, slammed the UK Government for continuing to cream an unfair tax off the whisky industry. The run up to Christmas is the most important period for domestic whisky sales. More than 40% of malt and 30% of blended whisky sales take place on the run up to the festive season.

At the Pre-Budget report earlier this month, the Chancellor, who takes 70% of the price of the average bottle of whisky in tax, ignored repeated calls to decrease whisky tax. At the Budget earlier this year the Labour Government increased the rate of duty on whisky by the highest amount since 1975. The 59p per bottle increase was condemned by industry and business organisations.

Mr Robertson, the Westminster leader of the SNP, said:

“The whisky sector is one of Scotland's key industries both in export, earnings and employment terms, and the current tax regime is undermining investment and competitiveness as well as damaging international trading conditions.

“Labour’s unfair tax is a ball and chain round the neck of every bottle of whisky distilled in Scotland. This tax works against the industry and against the Scottish economy. During an essential season for one of Scotland’s essential industries, this duty is a real burden.

“At the Budget earlier this year Downing Street increased the rate of duty on whisky by the highest amount since 1975 – we cannot have any repeat of that again in the New Year. Minimum Pricing will not harm Scotland’s Whisky industry but Labour’s dodgy tax regime already is.

“So as the Chancellor enjoys a festive nip; he should make a toast to the future of the whisky industry and cut Labour’s unfair whisky tax. That would be a New Year resolution worth keeping.”