Outcast Brands, the Dublin-based spirits company has announced the expansion of its global presence with the introduction of its Blood Monkey gins and Two Shores rums into seven new international markets.

The UK government’s freeze on alcohol duty is to be extended until August 2023 to help UK hospitality venues amid rising costs.

A group of over 100 UK drink industry figures have signed a letter written to The Times urging the chancellor to rethink its decision to reverse the alcohol duty freeze.

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has announced that planned increases in alcohol duty have been ditched in his mini-budget.

Sometimes accidents breed innovation. In 1928 Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by chance, having thrown away a bacteria sample he thought was spent.

Bacardi’s global travel retail department has opened a luxury seasonal boutique for its whisky portfolio in China.

Rhum Barbancourt, a family-owned distillery established in 1862, has entered a new distribution deal with MONARQ Group for Latin American and the Caribbean as well as duty free in the US.

South African wines and spirits producer Distell International has signed a distribution agreement with French cognac house Camus for China duty free, effective immediately.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced in the Budget today (March 16) that the UK duty on spirits, beer and cider duty will be frozen but wine duty will rise with inflation.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned that changes to customs classifications at EU level could lead to an increase in excise duty and VAT for some made-wine* products in the UK.

The US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement has come into force, representing "significant new access in an expanding spirits market" according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the US.

Morrison Bowmore Distillers has launched a travel retail-exclusive Glen Garioch single malt whisky.

UK: The Chancellor has added another 41p to a bottle of spirits and 11p to a bottle of wine in the latest Budget.