Duty on Scotch whisky will rise in line with inflation, disappointing the industry at a time when it is suffering from falling sales at home and abroad.
There has also been a campaign led by ministers to encourage overseas governments, particularly in the US and India, to cut tariffs.
Mark Kent, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said: “The Scotch Whisky industry is disappointed that the domestic tax burden has once again increased in the Autumn Budget, putting huge additional pressure on a sector suffering job losses, stalled investment and business closures.
“Put simply, the government cannot expect the Scotch whisky sector to just keep delivering growth, both at home and on the world stage, if the conditions which support growth are not nurtured.
“The previous 3.65% increase to spirits duty has reduced spirits revenue by 7% – a loss to the Treasury of £150m.
“Hiking duty today, for the third time in two years, not only limits our sector’s ability to contribute to much needed economic growth and productivity, but will once again fail to deliver for the public purse and needlessly cost jobs.
“Increasing global and domestic pressures led our industry to ask for duty in our home market to remain unchanged.
“Not a tax cut, not a handout, simply breathing room for a critical Scottish industry. Government has chosen to ignore those warnings, to the detriment of distillers, of bars and restaurants, our farmers and suppliers, and ultimately of growth.”
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