UK spirits producers are planning to increase their production capacity significantly over the next 12 months amid signs that the nation’s boom in spirits is set to continue.

A survey conducted by the newly formed UK Spirits Alliance found that 84% of distillers in the country are planning to increase production over the next 12 months.

Nearly one-third of spirits producers are planning to more than double their production over the next five years, the report says.

The poll was conducted by the UK-based market research company Survation on behalf of the UK Spirits Alliance.

According to the survey, 65% of the nation’s distillers have reported increased sales of spirits since Chancellor Philip Hammond froze duty in the 2018 Budget.

In addition, around 70% expect to increase exports in the next 12 months and 60% of producers are planning to hire additional staff.

UK Spirits Alliance spokesperson said: “This survey of spirits producers across the UK makes it clear: the Chancellor’s decision to freeze spirits duty in 2018 provided a boost for our industry, sparking growth that will deliver more money than expected for the Treasury.”

However, spirits producers who participated in the survey fear that an increase in the duty in this year’s budget could put their plans at risk.

The UK Spirits Alliance urged both large and small spirits producers across the country to tell the government to freeze duty for the length of parliament and reform it.

The spokesperson further added: “But distillers large and small fear that an increase this year would undo this good work, potentially putting a great British success story at risk.

“The UK Spirits Alliance has been formed to speak with one voice when it sends a simple message from the spirits industry to the new Prime Minister, back growth, back jobs, back a UK success story.

“Support spirits by freezing duty for the length of this parliament, while reforming it to give the industry the security and confidence it needs.”

The UK Spirits Alliance’s current backers include Bacardi, Brown-Forman, Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Hayman’s.