NEws update january 2024
Welcome to the fist blogpost from the Cask Whisky Association. Every month, the CWA will produce a blogpost to let those interested know what has been happening and what the focus ia over the next few weeks for the association.
Post Launch, the weeks following the September 21st launch of the CWA have been quite eventful. The general reception was positive, although some concerns were raised, and we’ve taken the opportunity to address them through media channels. As people gain a deeper understanding of the CWA and its purpose, there’s a growing anticipation to witness our growth and establishment.
Lobbying
The CWA has gained positive attention in notable publications such as The Times, Whisky Magazine, and The Drinks Business, alongside various whisky, legal, business, and national outlets. Engaging discussions in The Spirits Business have allowed us to reaffirm our purpose, underscore our independence via the advisory board, and articulate our goal of influencing government.
A few articles and on-line comments have raised concerns about the establishment of the CWA, particularly in Forbes and other online forums. We encourage discussions with the authors of these articles and the individuals expressing their opinions. We extend a warm invitation for them to reach out to us, as we are eager to engage in open dialogue. Despite our openness, we have not received any contact from them thus far.
A particularly compelling piece of media coverage of the CWA launch, and its presence came from Not Another Whisky Podcast. The podcast asked some searching questions and addressed many of the concerns raised, providing a valuable opportunity to offer insights and present a balanced perspective. It’s highly recommended listening and can be found here.
Lobbying
The CWA is actively engaging with parliament. Currently making its way through parliament is the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumer Bill. This legislation seeks to enhance consumer protection online, and the CWA is actively investigating whether Scotch whisky cask trading falls within its scope.
After a meeting with Wendy Chamberlain, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Scotch, she has penned a letter to the bill’s proposer seeking clarification on its extent. For more information, you can find the details and read the letter on our website here.
Membership application process
We’ve received close to thirty inquiries about membership. The board and advisory board have established the membership process, and we’ve set up an online form for potential members to complete. Applications are already streaming in, and we’ll be reviewing them in the weeks ahead. If you are interested in joining, please email us for a link to the form.
The coming weeks
The CWA plans to follow up with Wendy Chamberlain and schedule a meeting with the members of the APPG to brief them on the CWA. Additionally, we will be monitoring the response to Wendy Chamberlain’s letter to see what reply is received. The CWA’s first meetings to approve membership applications will take place in January and we will be introducing new members shortly afterwards.
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CASK WHISKY ASSOCIATION 