Groups unite to form World Spirits Alliance

Leading spirits producers and trade groups have come together to create the World Spirits Alliance (WSA) – an international association to represent the views and interests of the industry globally.

Spirits producers have created the World Spirits Alliance to represent the industry internationally

The WSA will aim to act as a “global voice” for the distilled spirits sector, and will be a representative partner and interlocutor for the industry in front of international organisations, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN).

Topics of interest for the WSA include the elimination of tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and discriminatory taxes; fair, transparent and evidence-based regulation; “adequate” excise tax structures; “proportionate” evidence-based public health measures for distilled spirits; and “ambitious” strategies to combat illicit alcohol.

The WSA includes: Spirits Europe, Asia Pacific International Wines and Spirits Alliance, Camara Nacional de la Industria Tequilera, Scotch Whisky Association, Association of Canadian Distillers, Pernod Ricard, Diageo, International Spirits and Wines Association of India, Japanese Spirits Liquor Makers Association, Brown-Forman, Distilled Spirits Council of the US, Spirits New Zealand, Rémy Cointreau, Beam Suntory, Spirits and Cocktail Australia, Campari and Edrington.

Marie Audren, secretary general of the WSA, said: “Many of us have been working together for nearly two decades, hence setting up a formal trade association to act as a united global voice on the integrity and social responsibility of our spirits industry is a natural and important step forward.

“Distilled spirits are a vibrant and highly dynamic sector with a unique diversity of products and producers across the world.”

Rodolfo González González, president of Camara Nacional de la Industria Tequilera, has been elected as the first president of the WSA.

He said: “The aims of the WSA are to create a common platform for exchange and have a representative body that will allow us to comment on issues of global relevance, particularly in areas of trade and regulatory policy, and help develop a positive environment for the sustainable success of the sector.”