{"id":4202,"date":"2016-02-23T15:16:14","date_gmt":"2016-02-23T14:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewhiskylady.net\/?p=4202"},"modified":"2016-02-23T15:16:14","modified_gmt":"2016-02-23T14:16:14","slug":"how-would-a-brexit-impact-the-uk-whisky-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewhiskylady.net\/how-would-a-brexit-impact-the-uk-whisky-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How would a “Brexit” impact the UK Whisky Industry?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Despite its tweeds-and-tartan image, whisky is anything but a cottage industry. It actually is Britain\u2019s largest food and drink export by far, worth more than 4 billion pounds ($5.8 billion) annually and directly employing 10,000 people at 115 distilleries in Scotland (and even more if you add English, Welsh and Northern Irish distilleries to the bill).<\/em><\/p>\n Britain has always had a mixed relationship with Europe since joining the single market in 1973. Successive governments have championed the trade benefits while balking at the idea of closer political union. The UK declined to join the passport-free Schengen agreement and stayed out of the euro.<\/p>\n There\u2019s more enthusiasm when it comes to booze. At the less potent end of the market, British drinkers stock up on cheaper wine and beer at French ports, able to travel back home with little or no restriction. For the stronger stuff, France jostles with the U.S. as the biggest importer of Scotch… (read more on Bloomberg)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n And as Prime Minister David Cameron has officially announced he will be holding an in-or-out referendum on Thursday the 23rd of June, I thought it would be a good time to hear the views of some industry members that rarely get to take the floor on this issue in important media: from the progressive distillers of Bruichladdich to recently-built businesses such as Glasgow Distillery and Penderyn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Simon Coughlin, CEO of Bruichladdich Distillery<\/a> says:<\/strong> “The impact of a Brexit on our business is difficult to predict. The regulatory environment that controls the export of Scotch whisky to the EU would inevitably change in the event of the UK leaving, but we do not know how. Businesses such as ours benefit from stable commercial and political environments in which to implement our long-term investment programmes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n