Hi,

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Is it acceptable if I use "in future" instead of "in the future"?

Yes. In fact, it's better and more standard. It makes the statement seem 'more general'.

Best wishes, Clive

in future is British; in the future is American.

CJ

Thank goodness you said that Jim! I never knew this was another one of the differences. I thought Clive had gone off the deep end for a moment - I should have known better.

GG,

Another similar one: BrE in hospital AmE in the hospital.

Another:

-- Did John work extra hours this past weekend?
-- I'm not sure; he may have. (AmE)
-- I'm not sure; he may have done. (BrE)

CJ

The are quite different.

"The future" means the time that has not yet come.

"In future" means from now on.

For example:

1) At some time in the future, we will all eat pills instead of food.

2) In future, you'll have to be more careful.

That's certainly the British English interpretation.

http://www.EnglishForward.com/English/FutureBritishAmericanEnglish/blnjj/Post.htm

CalifJimin future is British; in the future is American.

I'm not so sure about this any more:

At Google, from the BBC sites:
19,000 from bbc.co.uk for "in future"
97,900 from bbc.co.uk for "in the future"

Do you mean by it being British, that the British are still using it? That seems to be true.
Or
Do you mean by it being British, that the British are still using it in preference to in the future? The stats in the above cast some doubts on this.