Nielsen ScanTrack Liquor figures to the end of January this year suggest RTD sales have dropped dramatically by 29 percent since the introduction of the excise hike on 27 April 2008. Between May last year and January this year, the number of RTDs sold dropped by a total of 310 million standard drinks.

The Coca-Cola Company should have seen it coming. Remember how the Chinese government responded to the purchase of Anheuser-Busch by InBev last year?

On 19 February, Lion Nathan reported an increase of 7 percent in net sales for the quarter ending 31 December 2008 and reaffirmed its operating profit guidance of profit rising to AUD 315 million (EUR 160 million) for fiscal 2009. The domestic beer market is still strong with drinkers moving to premium, low-carb and mid-strength beers.

A sale to Kirin would reduce San Miguel Corp.’s stake in the brewing unit to 51 percent from 94.25 percent, according to estimates.

We shall never find out the truth behind Steel Partners withdrawing its offer. It is equally likely that Steel Partners was strapped for money – many funds these days are.

Government authorities in the State of South Australia (Adelaide) want to ban gimmicks they consider will entice young people to indulge in binge drinking. They targeted GoVodka, a vodka-based product packaged in attractive re-sealable tubes available in four flavours at 8.5% abv that was launched at special parties at selected Adelaide venues and a three-litre cocktail tower promoted by a suburban pub.

The 2009 AIBA judging panel includes the United Kingdom’s "Beer Doctor", Dr George Philliskirk, a director of the Beer Academy, an educational trust dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate beer.

The quarterly report on beverage trends by Citi analysts argues the upturn in beer drinking seems to have benefited the Foster’s Group most, writes John Harvey from Adelaide. The troubled Foster’s Group, which is currently mulling the fate of its wine division, has managed to claw back 1.8 percent of its market share from under 49 percent to more than 50 percent since May 2008.

Australia’s big wine companies have warned grape growers in the Murray-Darling Basin to expect a 30 percent decline in grape prices for major varieties from the 2009 vintage. Foster’s, Constellation (Hardys) and Pernod Ricard (Jacob’s Creek) have indicated that varieties such as shiraz and cabernet sauvignon could attract about AUD 500/tonne but chardonnay may fetch only AUD 250 to AUD 350/tonne – which is below production costs that have risen because of higher fertilizer, water and fuel charges.

Consolidation of the industry, led particularly by Australian Vintage, Constellation, Foster’s and Pernod Ricard, has reduced both the number of senior positions and the demand for more hands-on winemakers. The traditional nomadic winemaker workforce, whose members seek experience during vintages in both hemispheres, will find the search for jobs much harder in Australia this year.