HIGH PRICE OF WHISKY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

HIGH PRICE OF WHISKY.

BRITAIN'S BONDED STOCKS. OVER 150,000.000 GALLONS. More than 150.000.000 gallons of proof whisky is stored in the bonded warehouses of Great Britain. It is enough to last for 20 years at the present rate of consumption. This vast accumulation of spirit, the greatest flie country lias ever known, is due to the crushing duty imposed by tho Government. If this vast quantity of whisky were all taken out of bond to-morrow the country's revenue would bo swelled by £550,000.000; but this great sum cannot be applied to the relief of taxation, because the duty equivalent 8s a bottle has made the retail price prohibitive, and consumption is declining with startling rapidity. " Every bonded warehouse in tho country, and especially in Scotland, is choked with stocks of whisky," said a prominent whisky broker recently. " The distillers have cut down production to the lowest possible margin consistent with tho demand, but stocks are still increasing. Usually Scots distillers produce 30,000,000 gallons a year. Last year only half that quantity was distilled." Tho export trade is also suffering severely, because foreign countries are also increasing their duties. Only 30 distilleries wore at work in Scotland last season, compared with 94 12 months before.