Scottish hospitality coalition urges chancellor to protect whisky industry

Rachel Reeves was told duty rises mean overall tax on the average bottle of whisky is 70% of its price, contributing to about 1,000 redundancies since last year’s budget. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

A coalition of drinks, tourism and farming bodies has urged the chancellor to protect the Scottish whisky industry from a steeper sales slump and further job losses by freezing spirits duty in her budget next month.

The grouping, which includes the Scottish arms of the National Farmers’ Union, the Institute of Directors and UKHospitality, has written to Rachel Reeves to argue that a freeze in duty would be a “strategic investment” that could increase tax revenues.