LONDON: Britain has said that it would stop promoting for free the famous Scotch whisky through its diplomatic missions abroad if Scotland declares independence , a media report said.British foreign secretary William Hague told a private meeting that Scotland’s most famous export, the whisky, would be hit by a foreign office ban if the country breaks away from the UK, the Daily Mail reported.According to Hague, Britain’s 140 embassies and high commissions promote whisky for free. But, if Scotland goes it alone, embassies will stop promoting the drink and Edinburgh would have to take over the job and pay for it, he said.Last year, whisky exports earned Scotland £3billion , equal to £125 a second and more than 20% up on 2010.Scottish first minister Alex Salmond recently said he wanted to hold a referendum in late 2014 on breaking away from the rest of the UK. But, British PM David Cameron had said it should be held sooner rather than later to dispel the uncertainty which is affecting the Scottish economy. Both the leaders are to meet within weeks for talks about holding a referendum on Scottish independence.The talks were revealed as opinion polls showed that support for a break up of the Union is higher in England than it is north of the border.Scots do not want the English to meddle in whether they end their 300-year union with England, but British voters are keener to have a say in the matter.