The ABV threshold at which kombucha switches from a non-alcoholic beverage to what is effectively 'beer' for tax purposes is currently set at 0.5%. The KOMBUCHA Act, reintroduced to Congress by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Senator...
The ABV threshold at which kombucha switches from a non-alcoholic beverage to what is effectively 'beer' for tax purposes is currently set at 0.5%. The KOMBUCHA Act, set to be reintroduced to Congress this session, provided the right tax vehicle...
Uber Technologies will acquire US e-commerce alcohol marketplace Drizly for $1.1bn, which will see the service join the Uber Eats app as well as maintaining a separate Drizly platform.
A new partnership between alcohol brands, online retailers and delivery platforms pledges to create robust global standards for responsible online sales and deliveries of alcohol: with AB InBev, Molson Coors, Asahi, Drizly and Uber Eats all part of the...
South Africa will now allow limited sales of alcohol, lifting its third ban on alcohol sales. “This is a welcome step to helping the industry begin its long journey back to recovery,” say alcohol industry bodies.
In the first decision of its kind, The Portman Group has upheld a complaint against CBD gin ‘Colorado High’ in the UK for both creating a link with an illicit drug and implying therapeutic qualities. But the craft distiller behind the gin argues adults...
Australia’s alcoholic drinks sector has started the year with a fight on two fronts, leading industry leaders to give both barrels to new government drinking guidelines and accusations from academics that it provides a ‘distorted view’ of scientific evidence’...
The South African alcohol industry has pledged to withdraw support for, or association of brands with, major entertainment events over the festive period: saying they will not associate themselves with activities that have the potential of attracting...
Consumers have quickly adjusted to the new reality by shifting to in-home consumption occasions, says AB InBev, which saw beer volumes grow 2.6% in Q3 despite ongoing global on-premise restrictions.
The Brexit transition period is due to end in less than three months. What does this mean for food and beverage producers with geographical indication protection?
The South African alcohol industry is welcoming the government’s decision to lift its coronavirus ban on alcohol sales, with the trading and distribution of alcohol again permitted from today.
Whisky, beer and gin industries, Walkers Shortbread and Government respond on US tariffs
US tariffs have wiped £300m off Scotch whisky sales, with losses set to grow as it emerged they would be kept in place for what is one of Scotland's staple exports.
Alcohol industry organisations are calling on the South African government to provide a clear timeline of its coronavirus alcohol ban: not only because of the effect on the local economy, but also because of the constraints placed on international trade.
India has moved to implement strict 0% ABV regulations for alcohol-free beer in the country as part of the country’s alcoholic beverages revision, while Thailand is mulling tax raises for the category - spelling tough times ahead for zero-alcohol beers...
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) recently announced that it would be making industry-friendly changes to the text requirements for pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages – but its insistence to mandate coloured labels has left industry...
The labelling of alcoholic beverages with consumer information such as ingredients, nutritional values and potential harm from alcohol is ‘not consistent or even considered’ in many countries in Europe, according to a report from the World Health Organization...
The probiotic supplement industry has slammed an online beer advertisement for capitalising on therapeutic terms such as ‘pro-biotic’ and ‘good for the gut’ which were permitted for being only “tongue-in-cheek” by an alcohol marketing regulator.
The Australian alcoholic beverages industry has highlighted ‘glaringly obvious’ flaws and anomalies in the government’s recent review of minimum unit pricing, claiming that the results are erroneous and calling for an inquiry.
An ‘Automated Prosecco Machine’ installed in Central London is in breach of PDO legislation, according to MEP Mara Bizzotto, who says the gimmick is causing ‘huge reputational damage to producers’.
For many, alcohol-free beer or spirits doesn’t ‘feel’ quite right, according to YesMore account director Lolly Watkins. Does CBD have the potential to remedy this issue for consumers?
The Brewers Association (BA), which represents US independent brewers, has released its annual top 50 list according to craft beer sales volume: along with an overall top 50 brewers list.
Last week the US passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package for economic relief from the coronavirus pandemic. Assistance to small businesses will help craft alcohol producers keep going.
With the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis only likely to worsen, the federal government is announcing different forms of aid packages. US alcohol associations are now asking for assistance.
The outlook for wine e-commerce in China remains optimistic despite the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country, according to a leading expert.
Five weeks ahead of the start date, the Brewers Association has canceled the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference and World Beer Cup events, that were set to take place in San Antonio, Texas.
The low-to-no alcoholic (LNA) beverage industry is growing rapidly in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, and as of late this trend appears to have also caught on in the APAC region, with various major beverage firms launching their own...
Ficks Beverage Co. wants to transform the flavor quality in hard seltzer without malt liquor or flavors. It takes cues from health-forward, non-alcoholic seltzers by using only fruit juice and no chemical additives.
A mass shooting on Wednesday afternoon left six people dead, including the suspected gunman, at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin brewery campus of Molson Coors Beverage Company.
Germany, the UK and the US import the most wine in the world; while Italy, France and Spain produce the most. Sparkling wine is also topping trends as a favorite among younger drinkers.
The sale of alcohol in the US passes through a three-tiered system: producers, distributors and retailers. For years this has impacted alcohol’s digital presence, forcing consumers to shop brick-and-mortar or turn to third parties.
Carlsberg's alcohol-free brews increased 7% in volume in 2019. Craft brands also delivered well with a 16% jump, against a backdrop of core beer falling 1%.
In the face of health and wellness concerns and low-to-no alcohol trends, craft brewers of heavy, boozy beer are rethinking their methods. Line extensions and new packaging formats are the advice of Massachusetts-based Night Shift Brewing.
Makers of the Brizzy hard seltzer drink have filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Molson Coors, who plans to release a hard seltzer called Vizzy this year.
Bacardi is enlisting the help of 7,000 global employees to track new trends in cocktails and wider alcohol by sending them to local bars and restaurants. This year mindful drinking is expected to go mainstream, and natural, fresh ingredients will be at...
Local cider sales in the US are up 15% since last year. And despite recent challenges from hard seltzer and FMBs, regional ciders are tracking double-digit growth. The industry now focuses on conveying the diversity of the cider category.
Million-dollar commercials, glitzy halftime performances and a championship football game all come together in one of alcohol’s biggest holidays of the year. Every year, Americans prepare for Super Bowl Sunday with more than $2bn in booze sales.
By Steve Spice, Regulatory Manager at Ashbury Labelling
'Alcohol-free' in the EU means drinks with 0.5% ABV or below - and yet in the UK 'alcohol-free' drinks must be below 0.05% ABV. Steve Spice, Regulatory Manager at Ashbury Labelling looks at the different low and no alcohol descriptors...
After just a year and a half in business, Surreal Brewing Company sells five varieties of alcohol-free craft beer out of northern California. They exhibited at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show, sampling the latest release.
Hard seltzers dominated the alcohol conversation in 2019, and there’s been an uptick in flavored malt beverage (FMB) launches in response. Loverboy brings a healthier option to the small but growing hard tea category.
Popular RTD cocktails and pre-mixed spirits contain ‘unnecessarily high and hidden sugar and calories’, according to UK campaign group Action on Sugar. It says such drinks should reformulate in line with the parameters set out by the sugar tax - or else...
Introducing a minimum unit price (MUP) of $1.30 per standard drink across Australia could dramatically reduce alcohol consumption, claim researchers who argue that the affordability of booze has remained unchanged in 30 years.
The Pabst Brewing Company (PBC), best known for its Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) beer, is launching a new IPA. The Seabird beer is exclusive to the midwestern US region.
Following the summer of hard seltzers in 2019, White Claw’s popularity is expanding in 2020. It announced plans for a new facility to keep up with demand for the drink, and the brand will sponsor one of the biggest American festivals of the year.
Sake originated in Japan and is made alcoholic from fermented rice. Hiro Sake wants to make the trend portable and accessible with smaller, on-the-go portions.
US consumers spent $2.6bn buying alcohol online last year, but experts say it could be billions more. Alcohol ecommerce penetration is ‘abysmally low’ which Rabobank believes could have 'profound consequences' on the industry.
The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM) was officially renamed to the American Cider Association (ACA) on December 31. It called 2019 ‘a year of resilience’ for cider in the face of flavored malt beverage (FMB) popularity.
