Members of the backbench All-Party Scotch Whisky Industry Group will be told that the 26p a bottle cut would boost sales, and could help government revenue.

The Director General of The Scotch Whisky Association, Hugh Morison, said: “The current duty system is archaic, discriminates against UK produced spirits and should be a target for reform for a modernising Chancellor.

“The duty freezes of the last two Budgets have helped stabilise the market for Scotch Whisky. A cut would deliver a real boost to the industry, help fight the tide of cross-Channel shopping and send a signal to overseas governments that tax discrimination against Scotch Whisky is unacceptable.”

The present duty system taxes alcohol served as spirits more heavily than other drinks. A pub measure of Scotch carries duty of 27p, whereas the duty on a glass of imported wine, which contains the same amount of alcohol, is 18p.

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Note to editors: The industry’s Budget submission ‘Scotch Whisky Moving Forwards A Dynamic Spirits Industry for the Millennium’ is available from The Scotch Whisky Association