Britons have been warned of potential shortages of popular spirits and beers after workers at Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery in Scotland voted for strike action over proposed job cuts, pay and working conditions.
Around 100 employees are expected to take industrial action at the distillery, with the Unite union warning that disruption could affect supplies of some of the country’s best-known drinks brands.
Diageo, one of the world’s largest drinks producers, operates around 110 sites and sells more than 200 brands, including Johnnie Walker, Guinness and Smirnoff. The company employs about 4,500 people across 64 UK sites and almost 28,000 worldwide.
The dispute centres on plans to cut 10 jobs at Cameronbridge as part of a wider restructuring programme.
Dougie Orchardson, Unite industrial officer, warned that the dispute could bring production at the Scottish distillery to a halt.
“Diageo need to listen to its workers or the distillery will be brought to a standstill.
“Industrial action will inevitably result in supply shortages of many people’s favourite drinks. This is directly a result of Diageo planning to boost profits at the expense of its loyal workforce.”
The threat of disruption comes despite Diageo Scotland recording an after-tax profit of £595mn in 2025, down from £736mn the previous year.
The company is understood to have contingency plans designed to maintain production and minimise the impact of any industrial action.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said Diageo was running out of time to resolve the dispute before strikes begin.
“Diageo is drinking in the last chance saloon. Strikes will be announced in the coming days unless Diageo swiftly changes course.
“Diageo is raking in hundreds of millions of profit and there is no justification for slashing hundreds of jobs across its operations.”
The dispute reflects broader tensions across the drinks industry as producers attempt to adjust capacity and costs amid changing demand.
For Diageo, the proposed restructuring is intended to reduce production volumes and protect the long-term competitiveness of its operations. The company has rejected the union’s suggestion that industrial action would necessarily result in shortages.
A Diageo spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by the outcome of the ballot and remain committed to engaging constructively.
“The proposed changes are necessary as we maintain reduced production volumes to protect the long-term competitiveness of our business. We do not envisage any supply shortages.”
The Cameronbridge dispute is therefore set to test whether Diageo can implement its restructuring programme without significant disruption to production.
For consumers, the immediate concern will be whether any stoppage affects availability of familiar brands. While the company says contingency measures will prevent shortages, Unite has warned that prolonged industrial action could put pressure on supplies.
The union is now pressing the drinks giant to reverse the proposed cuts before workers walk out, setting up a confrontation over jobs, profitability and the future shape of one of Scotland’s major spirits production sites.
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