Engagement
SWA aims to promote and facilitate communication and understanding between the industry members and various government departments.
People | Planet | Prosperity
We want all the parties to champion our great exports like Scotch Whisky, ensuring it has the support it needs in the UK to deliver the growth and investment to see it flourish, deliver on its sustainability objectives, and play a leading role in promoting Scotland and the UK around the world.
Our manifesto asks candidates to commit to:
- Accelerate sustainable Scotch: provide a focused solution from government on grid connectivity and the capacity to support increased decarbonisation and access to the energy grid.
- Support Scotch in our biggest market: our industry needs the permanent removal of the 25% tariffs on Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the United States. The suspension of those tariffs is due to expire in June 2026 and their permanent removal, ensuring the industry is not hit again with punitive tariffs in trade disputes, is vital.
- Back growth and investment at home: Reduce the excise duty burden on spirits to the EU average by the end of the Parliament, which will support our industry to invest, grow our exports and our workforce, and deliver increased revenue to the Treasury.
Follow the SWA on X to learn more about our asks of Parliamentary candidates, and ensure that the government supports Scotch Whisky at home, abroad and for its long-term future.
Our ongoing engagement across Westminster and Holyrood
Scottish Parliament
The SWA is active in the Scottish Parliament, ensuring that views across the industry are understood and taken into consideration by MSPs and Ministers.
With distilleries throughout Scotland we look to ensure that the economic contribution and importance of the industry to Scotland is understood. Highlighting the industry's role and actions that can be taken to sustain and support its growth.
This includes important issues like infrastructure, digital connectivity, environmental protection and tourism.
Westminster
The SWA has a permanent office in the heart of Westminster to ensure that industry priorities are understood by Members of Parliament and various UK government departments.
As we represent a global industry, the SWA ensures that MPs and Ministers understand the Scotch Whisky industry’s global trade priorities and often travel with UK government delegations to key global markets.
Tax on Scotch Whisky in the UK is also controlled by the UK government. The SWA campaigns for fairer tax on Scotch Whisky in our home market.
In April 2024, Ivan McKee's motion S6M-11787 was taken to the chamber in Scottish Parliament. Titled 'Celebrating Scotland's Iconic Scotch Whisky Industry', a number of MSPs took part to highlight the work being done in their constituencies and across Scotland within the sector.
Cross Party Group (CPG)
The Cross Party Group (CPG) on Scotch Whisky promotes a better understanding of the Scotch Whisky industry to members of the Scottish Parliament. The industry is key to Scotland’s economy through exports, employment and tourism, but also plays an important role in achieving Scotland’s ambitious environmental targets and tackling alcohol misuse.
This group provides the forum to discuss these important issues with MSPs from all parties alongside key people from within the Scotch Whisky industry.
For information on issues relating to Scottish Parliament:
Please contact: Susanne Cameron-Nielsen, SWA Head of Engagement
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Scotch Whisky aims to promote and facilitate communication and understanding between representatives from the Scotch Whisky and spirits industry and Members of Parliament at Westminster.
In 2019 we celebrated Scotch Whisky and the industry's contribution to the Scottish and UK economies with MPs at the House of Commons.
For information on issues relating to Westminster and the UK Government:
Please contact: Fraser Grieve, SWA Deputy-Director, Strategy & Communications
Why #SupportScotch?
The Scotch Whisky Association represents an iconic domestic manufacturing industry with global reach. With over 90 member companies representing over 95% of production – from small, family businesses to international brands – we are the voice of strategically important sector for the Scottish and wider UK economies.
The Scotch Whisky industry
- Exports 44 bottles of Scotch Whisky per second, worth £5.6bn in 2022
- Adds £7.1bn in Gross Value Added to the economy, of which £5.3bn is generated in Scotland
- Supports over 66,000 jobs across the UK, including 41,000 in Scotland (14,000 of which are in rural areas)
- Has invested more than £2bn in capital expenditure since 2018
UK General Election 2024
Learn more about the SWA's manifesto for the 2024 General Election, and our ask of candidates to pledge to #SupportScotch
Engagement news & commentary
Scotch Whisky industry celebrates at annual Spirit of Scotland event
The Scotch Whisky Association's annual event brings together representatives from across the industry to celebrate the national drink
SWA comments on SNP leadership election results
Following the outcome of the 2024 SNP leadership contest, the SWA has congratulated John Swinney
‘Keep The Commitment’ Campaign Launched Following Tax Hike in Budget
The Scotch Whisky industry calls on the UK government to uphold their pledge to “ensure the tax system is supporting Scottish Whisky”
SWA comments on SNP leadership election results
Following the outcome of the SNP leadership elections, the SWA has congratulated Humza Yousaf
MPs and MSPs visit Scotch Whisky sites as part of Countdown to COP Open Day
Marking 100 days to go until COP26, MPs and MSPs around the country visited Scotch Whisky sites to learn more about the industry's sustainability ambitions.
100 Days Until COP26: Scotch Whisky Sites Showcase Sustainable Scotch
Scotch Whisky sites have opened their doors to showcase the industry's sustainability efforts, 100 days ahead of COP26.
Scotch Whisky Industry Seeks Clarity on Business Support
The Scotch Whisky industry is seeking urgent assurances from Ministers on aspects of the government's business support package, announced last week as a result of the economic disruption being caused by COVID-19.
Trade bodies urge end of tariffs on transatlantic whiskies
Spirits trade associations on both sides of the Atlantic have united to urge US and UK governments to remove tariffs on whiskies.
Scotch Whisky's key priorities in the 2020 Scottish Budget
The Scotch Whisky Association has laid out the five priority areas for the Scottish Government to support the industry in the forthcoming Scottish Budget on 6th February