SPIRITS producers have called on their local MPs to back their businesses and cut the alcohol tax, and an East Lancashire MP has given them his backing.
During a virtual roundtable meeting of the UK Spirits Alliance last week, distilleries and parliamentarians, including Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham, celebrated the rise in nationwide spirits production in areas like East Lancashire.
However, producers highlighted the current challenges they are facing, such as the cost-of-living crisis and the existing tax system, which currently sees bottles of spirits taxed at 70 per cent via excise duty.
Despite these challenges, the meeting was told one of the great success stories has been how distillers have excelled since the pandemic, with the number in the UK having more than quadrupled in the past six years.
Some of these distilleries are also now able to offer tours and tasting sessions again following the pandemic to entice more customers, and while this diversification is an example of recent innovation in the sector, spirits producers have said they need a "fairer tax system" from the Treasury.
Director of Burnley's Batch Distillery, Phil Whitwell, said: “It was fantastic to speak to parliamentarians today via the virtual roundtable, such as our local MP Antony Higginbotham.
"We’re really proud of the products we produce and what we do here, so it was great to discuss issues such as tax and the future to try and win their support.
“We have now asked Antony to take the message back to Westminster that the best way to support businesses like ours across the country would be to ensure the Government back spirits and back producers like me.”
During the meeting, Antony Higginbotham highlighted while the Government is good at promoting whisky, it is not as good as promoting smaller distilleries creating other spirits.
He also noted the tax regime "needs to stop punishing small distillers".
The Conservative MP for Burnley said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the virtual roundtable which gave parliamentarians like us the opportunity to discuss various issues with distillers, who are producing spirits that capture the essence of the UK.
"UK spirits is a British success story creating jobs, investment, and economic growth across all four corners of the UK, including in my constituency of Burnley.
"I want to see the Government support spirits producers like Phil in my constituency, as the Treasury looks to reform the way alcohol is taxed.”
A spokesperson for the UK Spirits Alliance added: “It’s great to see MPs across the country recognising that spirits are a British success story.
"Hospitality is a huge element of the UK spirits industry, and distillers provide billions every year to the Exchequer.
“But we need the Chancellor to support the industry as we reform alcohol duty, to build on the Prime Minister’s Queen Speech commitment to support Scotch Whisky and Gin producers.
“This is a once in a generation chance to make the alcohol duty system fairer and more representative of modern drinking trends.”
The UK Spirits Alliance campaign seeks to ensure the Government implements a "fair" duty regime for UK spirits producers, following the closure of the Treasury’s consultation into the Alcohol Duty Review on January 20.
Initially launched by the Chancellor at the Autumn 2021 Budget, the review aims to simplify the tax system.
The Treasury are currently reviewing industry responses to the consultation. Parliamentarians on the call offered their support to the local distilleries.
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