Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Analysis: Trade expresses disappointment over Budget

Published: 04 November, 2024

Failure to tackle some of their most pressing concerns have left trade bodies and operators frustrated. James Bayley rounds up their thoughts.

The Portman Group’s alcohol guidelines: A quiet revolution in the UK alcohol sector

Published: 11 October, 2024

James Bayley finds the UK alcohol industry is, more than ever, taking the Portman Group’s guidelines on board when it comes to drinks labelling.

UK spirits decline, premium segments resilient

Published: 23 July, 2024

James Lawrence looks at the trends shaping and driving premium sales

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.