BBPA and WSTA defend UK drinking record

UK: Trade bodies Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have denied that UK alcohol consumption is rising.

Royal Salute accelerates polo drive

Scotch whisky Royal Salute has announced its sponsorship of the Sentebale’s Polo Cup in Dubai.

PLB to distribute Bodegas Navajas wines

UK importer PLB has been appointed by Rioja winery Bodegas Navajas, with effect from March this year.

AB InBev launches Stella cider

UK: AB InBev has launched a cider under the Stella Artois name. Stella Artois Cidre will be available from easter 2011 in 568ml bottles and 440ml cans and the company suggests serving the product over ice.

Constellation Wines renamed Accolade after Champ takeover

Constellation Wines Australia and Europe has been renamed Accolade Wines following the completed acquisition of an 80% share in the company by Australian equity group Champ.

ICS attempts to measure the pleasure of cognac

In its fourth edition, the International Cognac Summit (ICS) 2011, attempted to answer the question: can you quantify pleasure when tasting cognac?

Scotland: Deputy prime minister toasts whisky exports

UK: The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg MP raised a glass to scotch whisky exports – up 12% in the first ten months of 2010.

Jacob's Creek winemaker live chat

Join us for a live web chat with Jacob’s Creek chief winemaker Bernard Hickin on Wednesday January 19 at 1pm (GMT).

Diageo appoints senior execs

Diageo Gobal Travel Middle East (GTME) has announced three ‘key strategic leadership’ appointments to its senior executive management team.

Budvar bucks Czech beer decline

Czech beer Budvar bucked a 12% decline in Czech beer exports in 2010 to record growth of 4%.

Foster’s pays tribute to England’s Ashes victory

Foster’s has launched an online tribute to England’s cricket victory, the first time for 24 years that England has won an Ashes Test Series in Australia.

Brand Phoenix to distribute Angove wines

Brand Phoenix has been appointed distributors for Angove Family Winemakers in the UK off-trade.

Brown-Forman looking to offload Fetzer

Brown-Forman, the major US drinks company, has announced a strategic review with a view to offloading its Californina-based wine assets.

Constellation sells its Australian, UK and South African wine businesses

Constellation Brands, hitherto, the world's leading wine company, has announced that it has sold its Australian and UK business, (Constellation Wines Australia and Europe, CWAE), to CHAMP, an Australian private equity group.

Alcohol Concern calls for training against alcohol misuse

UK charities Alcohol Concern and the Children’s Society have called for “mandatory social work training” on the issues surrounding parental alcohol misuse.

Funkin decides on Fusion range

UK-based mixer brand Funkin has announced the launch of a new range of purées called Funkin Fusion.

Beefeater packs a punch in travel retail

Limited edition Beefeater Winter gin has made its European travel retail debut in the main World Duty Free store in London Heathrow Terminal 3.

First Cape to sponsor Lions rugby tour

First Cape Wines has announced it will sponsor the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of Australia in 2013.

Drinkaware calls for tougher measures on drinking

UK charity Drinkaware has said that tougher action is needed to counter UK binge drinking.

CEDC to purchase Kauffman vodka

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) is to purchase the global rights for Kauffman vodka.

Disaronno crowns Mixing Star champion

Amaretto brand Disaronno has hosted the final of its first Mixing Star cocktail competition in London.

Jack Daniel’s holds fourth ‘birthday’ cocktail competition

Jack Daniel’s celebrated the 160th birthday of its founder this month, with the fourth edition of its UK cocktail competition.

Panama grants scotch whisky GI

Scotch whisky has been granted geographical indication of origin (GI) in Panama.

Hennessy goes for Gold

UK: Hennessy will mark 54 years of continuous partnership - British racing’s longest commercial sponsorship - at this year’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse on November 27.

Adnams opens spirits distillery

UK beer brewer Adnams has opened a small-scale distillery, producing vodka, gin and whisky.

Scotland: Minimum pricing rejected

The trade has welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s decision to reject minimum pricing. This was the final time in which MSPs could vote to decisively keep minimum pricing out of the Alcohol Bill. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has consistently argued that minimum pricing would be illegal and ineffective in addressing misuse, whilst significantly damaging one of Scotland’s key industries.

China: Scotch whisky gets geographical protection

China - an important market for scotch whisky – has announced that it will recognise and protect ‘scotch whisky’ as a Geographical Indication (GI).

Scotch whisky exports rise in H1 2010

Scotch whisky exports are up 17% compared with last year, with nine of the category’s top ten markets in growth.

Foster's appoints CFO

Foster's Group has appointed Anthony Reeves to the role of chief financial officer (CFO), on a fixed term contract, effective from Monday 8 November 2010.

Proximo and Marblehead strike distribution deal

US spirits company Proximo has entered into a UK distribution agreement with Marblehead Brand Development.

Smirnoff announces ‘nightlife exchange project’

Diageo brand Smirnoff has announced ‘country pairings’ for its global nightlife exchange project.

Mumm releases 2002 champagne in UK and Italy

G H Mumm has released its 2002 vintage champagne to the UK and Italy.

Jacob’s Creek campaign to be aired on Dave

Pernod Ricard has agreed a six-month sponsorship deal with UK TV channel Dave for its Australian wine brand Jacob’s Creek.

Prosecco Follador enters UK market

Winemaker and Prosecco brand Follador is launching to the UK market with a portfolio of sparkling and still wines.

Glen Garioch re-launches its range of single malts

Glen Garioch, the 200-year old Aberdeenshire-based distillery, has re-launched its range of single malt whiskies.

Global repackaging for Courvoisier VS

Cognac brand Courvoisier has undertaken a global repackaging of its VS label, starting with the UK and US markets.

Ceylon Arrack appoints Magrove as UK importer

Sri Lankan spirit Ceylon Arrack has appointed Mangrove as its exclusive UK importer.

Diageo boss to advise UK prime minister

Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh has been selected by the UK prime minister David Cameron to advise on business and economic issues.

Licor 43 targets UK growth

Spanish liqueur brand Licor 43 is targeting UK growth, after up-scaling its marketing operations with the appointment of a brand ambassador.

BBPA lobby UK ministers over alcohol proposals

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) met with the UK Home Office to air concerns over government proposals to change the Licensing Act.

Scotland: Diageo opens £40m distillery

Global drinks giant Diageo has opened the doors of its new £40 million distillery in Speyside, Scotland.

Minimum pricing for alcohol would land retailers £700m

The introduction of a minimum price for alcohol in Britain could see retailers and manufacturers reap £700m in extra revenue.

Champagne Jacquart enlists UK partners

Champagne Jacquart is to appoint Enotria as its exclusive UK distribution agent from October.

First Drinks appoints marketing boss

UK company First Drinks has appointed Una McCullough as marketing director.

Beefeater gin gets ready for winter

Chivas Brothers has launched a winter version of its Beefeater gin brand.

Champagne Mumm goes gastro

UK: Champagne GH Mumm has launched a campaign to reinforce its links with food. The Pernod Ricard brand is to partner selected restaurants as part of a UK-wide marketing campaign to celebrate its traditional links with gastronomy.

Scottish Labour says no to minimum pricing

Scottish Labour’s Alcohol Commission has rejected the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) proposal for minimum pricing.

Diageo appoints new board member

Diageo has announced the appointment of Lord Mervyn Davies of Abersoch to its board, effective September 1 2010. He is to be appointed as a non-executive director and his responsibilities will include membership of the audit, the nomination and the remuneration committees.

Plan Bee for Banrock Station

UK: Constellation Europe’s Banrock Station brand is to launch special edition wines to help preserve the British bee population.

New Zealand cocktails go to UK

New Zealand/UK: NZ based ready to serve cocktail company VnC is to launch in the UK. The company has signed a distribution deal with Whyte & Mackay to launch into the UK market.