Christie & Co, a key industry partner of the SLTA, held its well-attended Business Outlook events in Edinburgh and Glasgow last month at which SLTA secretary Colin Wilkinson spoke about some of the challenges – and burdens – facing the licensed trade.
Reminding his audience that the trade association is the voice of the industry for Scotland’s pubs and bars, he said: “There is no doubt that the last 15 years in particular have seen the industry face exceptionally difficult challenges including the introduction of the smoking ban, the lowering of the drink-driving limit and the discriminatory commercial rates burden inflicted on the trade, to name but a few.
“Despite all these burdens the industry remains a major contributor to the Scottish economy and plays an integral role in one of the country’s major growth industries – tourism.”
Indeed, the nation’s pubs and bars, he pointed out, are actually Scotland’s biggest tourism attraction.
Wilkinson said: “Visitors to Edinburgh Castle, which might have been thought the biggest tourist attraction, amounted to around 11% of all visitors to the country in 2016. In comparison, 71% of overseas visitors and 58% of all visitors to Scotland visit a pub or bar during their stay.
“With over 16.5 million visitors to Scotland last year, our pubs and bars are unquestionably a major tourist attraction for both domestic and foreign visitors, and they have an important role to play in promoting not only their own unique character and warmth of welcome, but also everything that is ‘Scottish-ness’ – from our culture to our natural larder.”
Wilkinson pointed to the many positive signs for the industry but warned that “we can’t ignore the difficulties the trade has had and continues to face”.
Referring to the SLTA’s Christmas/New Year review, sponsored by KPMG LLP and published just a few weeks ago, he added: “Another area of positive news is that more and more on-trade retailers are stocking beers, spirits, soft drinks and food from local producers – 75% of outlets are now stocking independent/craft beers versus 62% last year.
“The message for 2018 looks like being ‘expect growth in anything local and crafty’ – and as a sector we have a massive role to play in delivering Scotland’s food and drink strategy.
“Going to the pub is still the number one out-of-home activity,” he continued, “but to maintain that position the trade will need to be fighting fit for the future. Operators need to consider what they can add to their business to fulfil consumer demand for new and broader experiences.
“While there are still a number of long-term issues for the trade to face in 2018, one on the horizon requiring food for thought is the possible introduction of portion control in out-of-home eateries through possible ‘calorie capping’. In other words, you may only be able to buy a meal up to a certain calorific value – not the greatest of selling points for attracting tourists to Scotland, is it?
“The Government needs to take on board the benefits, both economical and social, that the whole hospitality industry brings to Scotland, and lessen their intervention and interference in an industry they repeatedly say they want to support – tourism.”