Whisky boss grilled on booze prices

Mar 17 2010

A whisky firm boss who has been recalled by a parliamentary committee will clarify what impact minimum pricing on alcohol could have on jobs.

John Beard, chief executive of Whyte and Mackay, told the Health and Sport Committee last week that the controversial measure could lead to his company shutting its bottling plant in the Grangemouth area and shedding jobs from its main grain distillery near Inverness.

He said that 300 jobs in the firm - which employs 480 people - would be lost. However, the drinks firm later issued a clarification, saying this was based on the estimated impact of a UK-wide minimum price for alcohol.