Whiskey industry in the UK - statistics & facts
Although the most recent data shows manufacturer sales of whiskey in the United Kingdom have increased, there is worry in the industry that fortunes may soon change. Between excise duty increases in the UK, economic uncertainty in many global economies, and a generational change in relationships with alcohol, the futures of UK whiskey and spirits are facing potential headwinds.
Although volume and per capita consumption are expected to remain relatively unchanged in the near future, one of the things that could alter that is the increasing consumer interest in no and low-alcohol beverages. Spirits have not reached the appeal of low and no-alcohol beer but growth in the market may spell a decline for whiskey along with the broader alcoholic drinks industry.
Exports are a mixed bag
Manufacturers sales of whiskey produced in the United Kingdom reached 5.1 billion pounds in 2023, an all-time record. Much of that whiskey was destined for foreign markets. The UK was, by far, the leading exporter of whiskey worldwide in that year. Over 7.1 billion U.S. dollars (5.7 billion GBP) worth of the beverage was exported from the UK. The Asia Pacific region was the purchaser of most of the UK's whiskey exports and nearly all of those exports were Scotch whiskey. Although still the world leader, export volume declined in 2023 by 19 percent.Consumption decline levels off
There were over nine million whiskey drinkers in the UK in 2023, nearly 2.3 million of which drank whiskey once a week or more. Total consumption of whiskey in the United Kingdom stood at 47.3 million liters in 2024, a reduction of 16 percent compared to 2019 but unchanged compared to the prior year.Although volume and per capita consumption are expected to remain relatively unchanged in the near future, one of the things that could alter that is the increasing consumer interest in no and low-alcohol beverages. Spirits have not reached the appeal of low and no-alcohol beer but growth in the market may spell a decline for whiskey along with the broader alcoholic drinks industry.
