WHISKY PRICE UP IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27752, 1 September 1955, Page 11

WHISKY PRICE UP IN BRITAIN

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 31. Brands of Scotch v/hisky in Britain go up in price from 35s to 36s a bottle on Thursday. A spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association said that heavily increased costs of production since 1951 had made the increase inevitable. He said that whisky prices had not gone up for four years and a half, in spite of rising prices in other commodities. “Among the factors which influenced the decision are increases in the prices of coal and coke, railway freight charges, packing materials, and bottles. “The export trade has really been subsidising home trade. Last year home consumption increased to 4,800,000 proof gallons from 4,300,000 gallons in 1953.” The Glasgow correspondent of “The Times” says that the export market is not likely to suffer unduly by the increased producers’ price, but more concern is expressed about the reaction of consumers in the United Kingdom and in Scotland, particularly where 36s a bottle is considered a formidable price to pay. “Home releases of whisky are still insufficient to meet the demand, and it will be some time before the availability of branded whiskies is fully restored.