I mean they have an interesting relationship...

The Scotch Whisky Industry and the tax man.

Some say the first tax on whisky was 2 shillings and 8 pence for ‘everie pynt of aquavytie or strong watteries sold within the country’. Some such as the national archives. Surprising over the next 60 years not a lot happened with the taxes, bar the rises or course. Until the union of English and Scottish parliaments. In 1707 and the introduction of a malt tax in 1715 which then may have, a little bit…sparked a Jacobite rebellion.

Now there are many, many more stories. But I’m going to tell you with the one with the Red Fox. It pretty much sums up the attitude to the English tax man.

The Red Fox was the nickname of Colin Campbell an official. A tax official. He left his country estate to travel North through Appin to collect the taxes and evict Jacobite Stewarts (in favour of those loyal to the government). On his travels he was shot and killed. And what did the locals do?

Well conceal the killer of course. He got away and hid in the hills. The attitude of “that’s too much tax” “What are you going to do about it?”. Anyway I’ve told you this, because I think a similar thing just happened again.

Not a murder, nothing like that. I’d call it a communal resistance. As King George the III said:

“They say, the price of my loves not a price that you’re willing to pay. You’ll be back, then you’ll see. As soon as the chancellor lowers VAT.”

The Scotch Whisky Association has released a damning report. Or more reported on a damning report. There’s outrage of the worst kind. The kind that marginally affects my wallet.

Last year in an effort to rake in some cash the Tory government increased duty on spirits by 10.1 %. Because more tax = higher revenues? Well nope. Massive £ 22 Bn pound short fall in public taxes. How does this involve whisky? Well…

10% of that entire deficit is from the whisky industry. An eye watering  £2.5 billion in lost revenue compared to previous years.

The government made a decision which increased inflation, reduced tax revenue, jeopardised investment, hurt businesses and households at the same time. They are not in government any more. One wonders why.

So we must now wait. Chomping at the bit. To see what our new chancellor will do. We she release unto us lower duty that we might again purchase whisky in bulk.