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.

The deal marks the start of a fire sale by InBev to pay for last year’s cash-based USD 52 billion acquisition of U.S. icon Anheuser-Busch. Due to the financial crisis, InBev had trouble putting together the USD 45 billion loan package. AB-InBev now has USD 14 billion in debt to pay off by late next year.

That beer consumption has continued to decline has been blamed on beer going out of fashion with young people – and price hikes.

The talks come as San Miguel is trying to acquire stakes in two of the Philippines’ biggest energy companies – Manila Electric and refiner Petron – in an effort to re-invent itself as a utilities company. San Miguel hopes to expand from its core food and drinks business towards heavy industry such as mining, power and infrastructure.