Scotch-makers expect rise in whisky consumption among Indian

London, Apr 25 (UNI) With large number of whisky drinkers in India than anywhere else in the world, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) expects a rise in the yearly whisky consumption in the South Asian country as the middle class becomes richer and import taxes reduced.

The Scotland's whisky industry yesterday had a celebration, after an Indian court barred an Indian company from claiming that its whisky was Scot-made.

The decision would also help the attempts by Scotland's Whisky producers to increase their share of the spirits market in India, where over 600 million litres of whisky is consumed every year.

The SWA, which represents distillers, blenders and brand-owners in Scotland and controls 95 per cent of the Scotch Whisky market, claimed that its members would now be protected from unfair competition.

Under the World Trade Organisation rules, only whisky produced in Scotland can be referred to as Scotch.

Recently while in Britain, Mr Vijay Mallya had accused the SWA of commercial imperialism and treating India as if it still were a British colony.

Mr Mallya hit out at what he called the SWA's ''double standards'' for demanding that the Indian government lower import duty on Scotch whisky while refusing to recognise Indian whisky in Britain.

However, the SWA says it does not recognise it as they are made from sugarcane molasses and are not cereal based as Scotch whisky is.

UNI XC VJ HT2014