Tourist sites pull plug on whisky sales as licensing costs soar

A HOST of well-known tourist attractions are to stop selling miniatures and display bottles of whisky and wine because of rocketing licensing charges.

Historic Scotland has decided not to renew its licence to sell alcohol at 16 of its properties, including Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, St Andrews Castle and Dunstaffnage, near Oban.

The high costs involved in obtaining a licence – which in some cases has reached 10,000, including legal and architects' fees – has led the government agency to slash the number of outlets selling whisky and other alcohol.

It will continue to sell alcohol in its most popular attractions, including Edinburgh and Stirling castles.

The National Trust for Scotland is to stop selling alcohol at three of its properties – Brodick Castle on Arran, Ell Shop in Dunkeld and Priorwood Gardens in Melrose.

The news has angered tourism chiefs who say the new licensing rules are damaging the industry.

Eva McDiarmid, the chief executive of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions, said the principles behind the Scottish Government's new licensing system – which include reducing crime and minimising the damage to public health from alcohol – were worthy. But there were unintended consequences, too.

"It's affecting everybody in the tourist industry who sells whisky, that's effectively what it is," she said.

"That's rather ironic when whisky is one of the pillars of this Homecoming year. It's discrimination by default."

Susan Morrison, the director and general manager of the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre in Edinburgh, said the new licensing regulations, imposed on anyone who wants to sell alcohol, were "bad news" for Scotland's most iconic product.

"Scotch whisky is synonymous with Scotland and plays a huge part in the tourism industry," she said.

"But these regulations have proved extremely difficult for the tourist trade."

Every outlet in Scotland that sells alcohol must have a new licence in place by September.

The licence fees are set by local authorities, but applicants have to clear a number of hurdles, including submitting detailed plans and training staff to become personal licence holders.

The Historic Scotland properties that are affected will cease to sell alcohol from April.

A spokeswoman said: "We have decided to stop selling alcohol at some of our smaller sites. This is due to the administrative requirements and additional staff training needed under the new act. We took some time to consider the various elements of operation that are affected by the act."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "The transition to the new Licensing Act is a major change for all involved.

"Some businesses will re- assess the importance of and need for a licence to sell alcohol and may find they no longer wish to sell alcohol – that is a decision to be based on individual circumstances."

BACKGROUND

Historic Scotland sites that will cease to sell alcohol: Tormiston Mill, Corgarff Castle, Fort George, Blackhouse, St Andrews Castle, Edzell Castle, Castle Campbell, Aberdour Castle, Huntingtower, Dunstaffnage, Inchcolm Abbey, Caerlaverock Castle, Dryburgh Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, Melrose Abbey and Linlithgow Palace.

Sites that will continue to sell alcohol: Dallas Dhu, Urquhart Castle, Skara Brae, Balvenie, Stirling Castle, Iona Abbey, Doune Castle and Edinburgh Castle.