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2026 Manifesto | Whisky isn't just made in Scotland: It Makes Scotland

Through testing times, the Scotch Whisky industry remains focused on delivering growth. Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary elections, we’re calling for support from government to keep that focus.
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Click here to read the full manifesto

Scotch Whisky is an integral part of our Scottish culture, heritage and global identity, and a key contributor to our economy. It’s critical that Scotland offers a competitive business environment in which Scotch Whisky can thrive and develop commercial opportunities. Global success starts at home, and it is crucial that government supports our industry to progress Scotland’s prosperity.

Having the support we need from all parties and candidates in the 2026 election will help our industry deliver growth and investment alongside our sustainability and responsibility objectives, and will enable Scotch Whisky to continue to play a leading role in promoting Scotland globally.

DISCOVER HOW SCOTCH WHISKY DELIVERS FOR EACH REGION IN SCOTLAND

READ THE SCOTCH WHISKY INDUSTRY'S KEY ASKS 

READ THE FULL SCOTCH WHISKY INDUSTRY MANIFESTO

KEY ASKS

 

We ask all parties, all candidates and the next government to work with industry and deliver on our asks to Progress Prosperity, Protect Sustainability and Promote Scotch.

READ THE FULL SCOTCH WHISKY INDUSTRY MANIFESTO HERE

 

PROGRESS PROSPERITY

We need the government to deliver a competitive business environment with streamlined and improved regulation; an efficient and well-resourced planning process to reduce cost and complexity and free up investment; and a better-balanced tax regime.

Learn more about the Scotch Whisky industry's campaign to unlock growth & infrastructure asks.

Our ask of the next government is to:

Work in partnership with our industry to co-design and co-deliver a shared Scotch Whisky Growth Strategy.

 

We spoke to David Rogerson, Distillery Manager at Balblair Distillery on the challenges faced by the distillery to manage green energy infrastructure, attracting talent with limited affordable housing, and bringing key materials to a remote regional location. 

PROMOTE SCOTCH

While Scotch Whisky plays a vital role in driving the growth and profile of Scotland’s tourism industry, measures such as business rates relief for hospitality and tourism remain crucial to both survive and thrive sustainably.

With new market opportunities to pursue, our ask of the next government is to:

Bolster Scotch Whisky’s potential in key markets by co-developing a Scotch Whisky Tourism Promotion Plan, underpinned by government support.

From Islay, to Glasgow, to the village of Kingsbarns, Scotch Whisky tourism plays a major role in the local economy. Both international and domestic visitors are looking to discover the provenance of their favourite dram, and learn more about Scotland's national drink - whether in a distillery, or at a bar, pub or restaurant. We spoke to James Wills (Kilchoman Distillery), Andrea Morris (Kingsbarns Distillery) and Bridgeen Mullen (Clydeside Distillery) about Scotch Whisky, tourism and what support is needed for the industry ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary elections.

PROTECT SUSTAINABILITY

We want to ensure Scotch Whisky is enjoyed responsibly and sustainably for generations to come. To drive further progress and stay on track for a sustainable and resilient future, we need a supportive, enabling and equitable policy and regulatory framework that supports our ambitious sustainability strategy.

Our ask of the next government is to:

Provide expanded funding programmes to de-risk investment in decarbonisation - adopting flexible models, including going beyond match-funding, to enable smaller businesses to access support.

Our industry is looking to the next government to deliver a sustainable and collaborative approach to alcohol regulation, recognising that the majority of those who choose to consume our national drink do so responsibly. In 2024, the Scotch Whisky Association announced its support for Community Alcohol Partnerships, a targeted and evidence-based initiative aimed at tackling underage drinking in key areas across Scotland.

Our ask is for the next government to:

Support the establishment of local Community Alcohol Partnerships to tackle drinking in under 18s, improve their health and well-being and enhance their communities.

In 2024, the SWA announced a new partnership with Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP), in a targeted initiative aimed at tackling underage drinking in key areas across Scotland. Funded by the SWA's Scotch Whisky Action Fund, £300,000 of funding will be provided over three years.

Discover how the Scotch Whisky industry is delivering for Scotland

Use our interactive map to explore what Scotch Whisky contributes to your constituency and Scottish Parliamentary region.

Discover:

- how many people are employed in the direct production of Scotch Whisky in the region

- What Scotch Whisky contributes to the region

Having trouble using the map? Use the following links:

CENTRAL SCOTLAND AND LOTHIANS WEST • GLASGOW • HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS • EDINBURGH & LOTHIANS EAST • MID SCOTLAND & FIFE • NORTH EAST SCOTLAND • SOUTH SCOTLAND • WEST SCOTLAND

 

Want to support the Scotch Whisky industry's asks?

Share the below tiles on social media, tagging @ScotchWhiskySWA using the hashtag #WhiskyMakesScotland.

The Scotch Whisky industry's asks

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Progress Prosperity

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Protect Sustainability De Risk Investment

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Protect Sustainability - CAPs

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Promote Scotch

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#SupportScotch

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