All six of the company’s biggest brands, including Johnnie Walker, Baileys and Tanqueray, returned to growth.
“Those are improving markets that we expect to see continue,” Diageo’s European president John Kennedy said.
The company’s luxury spirits business, which includes its premium spirits like Ciroc vodka and Haig Club whisky, saw sales in Britain rise by nearly a third.
In the United States, where Diageo is alleged to have overstocked resellers with its products, potentially boosting sales figures, operating profits were flat.
David Beckham starred in Haig Club's advert, which was direct by Guy Ritchie (Picture: Diageo)
The company said it was working with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which made a request for information about its distribution in July.
It remains confident that the US, where it makes 40% of profits, would continue to drive growth.
