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Alcohol Regulation

Pressure is rising in Europe for tougher rules on alcohol pricing and advertising. Public health and the health of the drinks industry is at stake in these negotiations and debates.

Royal row for Diageo as top Irish lawyer slams Guinness 'PR coup'

The director general (DG) of the Law Society of Ireland has reportedly said that the Irish government should stop foreign dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip from being pictured...

New York AG probes MillerCoors backing of Puerto Rican Day Parade

Flags to flog beer: ‘Height of disrespect’ or generous patriotic gesture?

MillerCoors' has sought to defuse anger amidst New York Puerto Ricans over its use of the US territory’s flag on cans as the state’s attorney general (AG) enters the row,...

AB InBev angered by Ohio beer bill as craft brewers claim victory

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has attacked ‘free market restrictions’ after a controversial brewery bill was passed in Ohio, but the state’s Craft Brewer’s Association says the law protects craft brewers’...

Heineken CFO plays down flag brand’s global sales slump

Heineken has played down a 4.7% slump in global sales of its eponymous brand versus Q4 2012, blaming bad weather in Europe and retailer destocking in France and the US.

SAB Miller ‘quite positive’ over legal challenge to Mexican beer exclusivity

SAB Miller says it feels ‘quite positive’ about the possibility of Mexico opening-up as a beer market, with the nation’s competition authority poised to rule on the legality of exclusivity...

United Spirits: India regulator gives green light for $2bn Diageo deal

The Indian Competition Commission (CCI) has approved Diageo’s purchase of a 53.4% stake in United Spirits (USL), saying that the £1.28bn ($2.04bn) purchase may boost the nation’s premium spirits market...

Underage US drinkers prefer Bud Light, Smirnoff, Budweiser: Study

Bud Light, Smirnoff malt beverages and Budweiser were the brands most widely consumed by by 1000+ underage US drinkers over a 30-day period, according to the authors of a new...

Diageo tells FTC: ‘Help us cross US alcohol facts finish line’

Diageo tells BeverageDaily.com it welcomes a US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommendation that high-alcohol malt beverage brand Four Loko carry 'serving fact' information on some cans, but urges regulators to...

‘Morphing’ wine regulations scare Russian importers: Wine Intelligence

Despite signs that the Russian wine market is recovering, market players remain scared by corruption, bureaucracy and shifting regulations.

Heineken, Carlsberg ratings will survive French beer tax: Moody’s Investment Service

Moody’s says it will not downgrade its ratings of Carlsberg and Heineken, despite the potential harm a massive French tax increase in January could pose to national beer sales.

Carlsberg ‘surprised’ by UK Alcohol Strategy unit price push

Carlsberg says that UK government plans to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol are surprising and will not curb alcohol misuse, especially since the EU suggests such a policy could...

Captain Morgan: The privateer behind the brand at the center of the legal storm (Picture Copyright: Dakota Starr/Flickr)

Diageo slams 'baseless' Serrallés suit as Captain Morgan sails into storm

Diageo has dismissed as 'baseless' legal action taken by Destileria Serralles (DSI) in the US, which alleges contractual breaches linked to the former's move to shift production of Captain Morgan rum from...

Pernod Ricard subsidiary slams Czech spirits ban

Pernod Ricard’s Czech subsidiary Jan Becher (JBKB) says the Czech government’s decision to ban all strong spirit sales in the country, following 20+ methanol-related deaths linked to local bootleg liquor,...

Victoria Bitter boosts alcohol levels as recipe changes backfire

Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) CEO Ari Mervis admits the SAB Miller subsidiary was wrong to change the recipe for Victoria Bitter (VB), but is changing the Aussie beer back...

Soaring French spirits taxes rock Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard admits that the effects of a hefty 2012 French VAT hike on spirits has ‘severely affected’ the fortunes of key brand Ricard and other aniseed spirits with 45%+ ABV.

Carlsberg takes the bulls with the bears: Q2 results

Danish brewer Carlsberg’s latest results offered “something for the bulls and something for the bears” according to city firm UBS.

Foster’s and Diageo rocked by Australian Facebook ads ruling row

Foster’s Group has hit out at complaints leveled at its Victoria Bitter (VB) brand Facebook page and upheld by the Australian Advertising Standards Board (ASB), arguing that brands are accountable...

Rexam prefers patience to Russian Roulette in 2012

Rexam will await the effects of higher beer prices before adding extra Russian beverage can capacity, as new comments by Russian president Vladimir Putin sent major brewers’ share prices tumbling...

The majority of UK consumers enjoy alcohol responsibly. (Picture Copyright: Declan Merriman/Flickr)

Portman Group ‘deeply disappointed’ at alcohol reduction pledge reception

While it welcomes a new UK parliament alcohol strategy, influential industry body the Portman Group said it was 'deeply disappointing' that the committee that wrote it did not appreciate the significance...

Carlsberg warns Baltika Breweries shareholders they may 'miss opportunity'

Moscow stock exchange the MICEX has approved the delisting of Baltika Breweries from October 5, as Danish brewer Carlsberg continues it bid to acquire the company's outstanding share capital.

Pernod Ricard brand buys will help us get aquavit moving – Arcus-Gruppen

Norway’s largest spirits producer Arcus-Gruppen says it hopes to get its Nordic aquavit business 'moving again' with the acquisition of three aquavit brands from Pernod Ricard for €103m.

Kiwi retailer wins trademark battle with Scottish whisky watchdog

A New Zealand whisky brand with a Scottish-sounding name has won a copyright battle with the international Scotch whisky watchdog.

‘We won’t be pushed around by the alcohol industry’: Australian ads review board

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) says that the nation’s new ‘independent’ Alcohol Advertising Review Board (AARB) should be scrapped for lack of results.

Picture Copyright: Ivan Walsh/Flickr

Stellar Chinese wine market presents ‘mind bending’ challenge – Rabobank

Stellar growth of wine sales in China is attracting foreign firms facing 'fierce competition and sluggish sales' elsewhere, but penetrating local markets remains the holy grail for foreign and local firms....

Vehement industry opposition to Indian alcohol regulations

The head of a powerful Indian trade body representing multinational alcohol brands has told BeverageDaily.com that standards proposed by the FSSAI to set nationwide alcohol limits in drinks are a...