Scotched Earth BBC Scotland Investigates

[Alastair]

There was a good BBC Scotland Investigates program on BBC 1 tonight called Scotched Earth

[Quaich1]

[William]

I recorded it to watch later.

Not sure if you will be able to watch it Murray, i believe the BBC only let people located in the UK watch there programs online.
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There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[Quaich1]

[bifter]

Can't say I was impressed. Going after companies that avoid corporation tax is one thing, export tariffs are another but spirits are already disproportionately expensive in the UK due to duty and VAT in my view. You can often pick up whisky cheaper in other countries.

Also as one of the interviewees states, taking a greater cut from an industry just because it has been successful is not necessarily the best way to promote Scotland as a place to do business. Once a precedent were established it could be used in other areas. The proposed 'bed tax' on Edinburgh hoteliers comes to mind.
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[rlemkin]

[bifter]

[Kenny M]

Interesting that Scotch single malt whisky represents less than 10% of volume sold but nearly 20% of value sold.
Also interesting that Diageo believe they may need to build 2 more distilleries the size of Roseisle to meet demand within the next 5 years.

If there are companies avoiding corp tax they should be looked at but i dont think a production tax is fare at all.

[Alastair]

I guess the program did let people know the truth about what Scotland actually makes from whisky, i sometimes think people are given the impression that Scotland gains a lot more from whisky than it does get, whereas it is the big companies who own and run the distilleries who gain from its success, and rightly so.

With the referendum in Scotland approaching people should be made aware of facts like this. Yes Scotch whisky contributes a lot to the economy but not the significant amount some may believe.

[albo]

This is an interesting debate.

I haven't seen the programe so this may be wildly off the mark, but I would imagine Scotland gains plentifully from the fact that whisky is produced here, in tourisum and what not, not just on the sale of bottles.

However, it is probably assumed, incorrectly, that Scotland gains much more from whisky than the reality, but that's no different with exported goods round the globe. I would imagine Apple (and thus persumably America or where ever they pay corporation tax) make are more far from the sale of an ipod than Tiwan does in producing it. The simple fact is, the high the cost of the item to the exported country, the less they are going to buy. Everyone still wants to make their cut, the consumer picks up the real cost at the end of the day, which will undoubtably more than the initial hike. In the long run it could have a detrimental effect.

[Calder]

Not watched it all yet, will watch the the rest when i am not at work.

An interesting figure is that over the past 10 years the value of whisky exports has doubled but the volume of whisky exports is only up a third. Meaning a big increase in profits but not an increase in jobs.

[Mark]

Cheers for the link Alastair, i forgot this was on last night, i will watch it later tonight

[albo]

I ended up watching this the other night on catch up thingy.

Interesting enough view on things, it makes one wonder what would happen should Scotland gain independance.