Guinness sales off set by spirits mix

Strong US spirits sales cheered profits at drinks giant Diageo today, but the Guinness maker was again hit by falling sales of the iconic pint in its heartland of UK and Ireland.

Diageo said demand for key brands Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker whisky, Captain Morgan rum and Jose Cuervo tequila in the US – where net sales were up 7% – helped lift pre-tax profits 4% to £1.29bn (€1.9bn) in the six months to December 31.