Scotch industry should not get ‘easy ride’ from independence

The Scottish government shouldn’t give the whisky industry “an easy ride” if the country becomes independent, a leisure and tourism expert has warned.

The Scottish government is accused of being contradictory over its alcohol policy

A new research paper published in the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, claims the Scottish government must be more balanced when it comes to promoting both the Scotch whisky industry and alcohol awareness.

Author Karl Spracklen, professor of Leisure Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University, has challenged Scottish policy makers’ “contradictory approach” to the drinks industry, encouraging whisky tourism and Scotch exports, but campaigning to moderate drinking.

“The whisky industry in Scotland argues that it creates significant amounts of revenue for Scotland and the UK – not just in sales of single-malt whiskies and blended whiskies, but also from the contribution of whisky tourism,” Spracklen explained.

“As such, Scottish policy-makers in tourism and local regeneration have used whisky both as an attraction to market to visitors to the country and as a vehicle for creating jobs. This is contrasted with Scottish government policies on leisure that identify alcohol drinking as problematic, and support campaigns to moderate drinking in the wider Scottish public.”

The paper added that the Scottish government’s campaign for independence, a referendum that will be voted for on 18 September, outlines strategies for tackling alcohol misuse but “carefully excludes” the whisky industry and whisky consumers from “suffering its policy-making”.

“If Scotland does vote for independence then I think the Scottish government needs to understand that whisky is important and must encourage investment to guarantee the industry’s future,” Spracklen claimed.

“But I also think that they shouldn’t give the industry an easy ride: it is part of the wider drinks industry which is ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of Scottish citizens and a new Scottish government should hold those companies responsible.”