Australia | A Federal Parliamentary Committee is looking into the impact of concentration and competition in the retail market on brewers. At a recent hearing, on 28 August, Lion’s Managing Director, David Smith, told the committee that Lion has an “absolute policy” of not getting in the way of taps for independent brewers.

Australia | The pun was unavoidable. Kirin-owned Lion not only decided to close Two Bird’s Spotswood brewery and taproom in Melbourne, which was founded by two women, the iconic brand will be discontinued too.

Australia | Lion Group, the firm behind brands like Toohey’s, Little Creatures Brewing and XXXX beer, is slashing hundreds of jobs following a review of the business by new CEO Sam Fischer. Mr Fischer joined Lion from Diageo, where he was President Asia Pacific and Global Travel, in July 2022.

New Zealand | From 1 July, the price of a pint of beer and a glass of wine is set to rise, following a 6.65 percent hike to the alcohol excise tax. It comes after a record 6.92 percent increase in 2022. The decision, made on 2 June, will cost New Zealanders an extra NZD 86 million (USD 53 million) per year, including NZD 28.9 million (USD 18 million) for beer drinkers.

Myanmar | Kirin will be glad it exited its local brewery joint venture with a military-linked partner in 2022: Because human rights activists have since stepped up their efforts to call out international brewers still operating in the country over the military’s human rights abuses.

Australia | Kirin’s subsidiary Lion, the number two brewer in Australia, decided to close its Tiny Mountain taproom and microbrewery and discontinue the brand altogether.

India – Will this end their public spat? Danish brewer Carlsberg said the Khetan Group, which owns 33 percent of the shares in the holding company that manages businesses in India and Nepal, has announced it seeks to sell its entire stake to the brewer for USD 744 million.

Vietnam | The beer and beverage industry was hit hard by the pandemic, when restaurants, bars and hotels were forced to close. However, the brewing industry has seen a rapid recovery.

Australia | There is a lot of angst about the latest excise hike, following high inflation. The cost of beer is set to rise again, as excise tax went up by 3.7 percent on 1 February, after rising 4 percent in August last year.

Australia | How inspired is this? The Asahi-owned brewing company CUB introduced Spill in November in partnership with the booze retailer Coles. CUB engaged the social media star Abbie Chatfield as the celebrity influencer and face of the brand.