Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Tax cut would generate £1.6bn for Treasury says SWA

Published: 26 February, 2024

A duty cut to Scotch Whisky and other spirits would generate an extra £1.6bn over five years for public services, a new report has found.

Scotch contributes £7bn to UK economy

Published: 16 January, 2024

The Scotch Whisky industry contributes more than £7bn to the UK economy, a report has found.

Scottish drink trade welcomes DRS delay announcement

Published: 18 April, 2023

Following months of petitioning from the drinks trade, new Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf announced that the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will be delayed until March 2024.

Scotland’s tidal wave of challenges

Published: 10 February, 2023

From the Deposit Return Scheme to a new consultation paper on restricting alcohol advertising, the Scottish drinks industry faces a barrage of problems. James Bayley reports.

Industry “absolutely shocked” by proposed Scottish alcohol advertising ban

Published: 18 January, 2023

The Scottish government is in the midst of a consultation, seeking views on potential restrictions to alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland.

Portman Group updates alcohol labelling guidelines

Published: 11 May, 2022

Today, the Portman Group, the alcohol social responsibility body and alcohol marketing self-regulator, has updated its Alcohol Labelling Guidelines, providing best practice guidance to alcohol producers.

Soapbox: Rum colonisation has to stop

Published: 22 March, 2022

Ian Burrell, the co-founder of African and Caribbean rum brand Equiano, makes the case for protecting Caribbean rum as a local and authentically made protect

Laithwaites commits to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035

Published: 20 September, 2021

Laithwaites has committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, with the shorter-term goal of halving its carbon footprint by 2030.

Scotch Whisky Association receives UN recognition for sustainability commitments

Published: 20 September, 2021

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has become the UK’s first food and drink trade association to be recognised as a Race to Zero partner.

UK to suspend US tariffs in hope of relief on Scotch exports post-Brexit

Published: 09 December, 2020

The UK is to suspend existing EU-imposed import tariffs on a slew of US products as Brexit transition comes to an end on 1 January, with the hope that a reciprocal move will see harsh US duties on Scotch lifted.

Scotch whisky industry launches Diversity and Inclusivity Charter

Published: 28 September, 2020

The Scotch Whisky industry is this week launching its Diversity and Inclusivity Charter in a series of events led by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

SWA publishes revised industry marketing code

Published: 30 July, 2020

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has published the fourth edition of its Code of Practice for the Responsible Marketing and Promotion of Scotch Whisky.

SWA calls on whisky fans to urge government to ‘call time on tariffs’

Published: 20 July, 2020

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has launched a campaign urging whisky lovers to write to their MPs underlining the damage that US tariffs are causing to the Scotch whisky industry and asking them to “urge the government to call time on tariffs”.

Scottish distillers pledge 13.5 million litres of ethanol for hand sanitiser

Published: 23 April, 2020

Distillers across Scotland have currently pledged over 13.5 million litres of ethanol to support the production of more than 54 million bottles of hand sanitiser.

Johnson urges Trump to lift tariffs on Scotch

Published: 06 November, 2019

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged US President Donald Trump to lift tariffs on Scotch whisky.

SWA hires ex-FO mandarin for key international role

Published: 22 August, 2019

The Scotch Whisky Association has appointed a former senior official at the Foreign Office as the organisation’s international director.

Scottish government calls for post-Brexit protections for whisky

Published: 01 August, 2019

Scotch whisky must retain its current protected status if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, Fergus Ewing, the Scottish government’s secretary for the rural economy, has said.

International spirits industry unites behind new global body

Published: 10 July, 2019

Many of the world’s leading spirits producers have partnered to create a new global organisation for the industry, it was announced in Geneva yesterday.

Scotch sets out vision for the future

Published: 23 May, 2019

The Scotch Whisky industry plans to combine “future global growth” with “action to ensure the environmental sustainability” of the industry.

SWA secures trademark for Scotch in South Korea

Published: 07 May, 2019

Scotland’s national drink has secured enhanced legal protection in South Korea after the Scotch Whisky Association’s (SWA) application to register “Scotch Whisky” as a Certification Trademark was successful.