New technology may help Australia’s winemakers cope with higher alcohol levels brought about by the freak weather conditions of the 2008 vintage.

Binge drinking is currently a hot topic in Australia, occupying much media time and space.

A recent survey of the premium segment reveals that international brands continue to lead but domestic beers have improved slightly.

Coincident with the staging of cycling’s Tour Down Under in South Australia in January, a range of citrus flavoured (Radler) beers have become available.

Efforts by Aussies to battle bulging bellies have led to a 250 percent increase in the sales of low carb beer brands such as Hahn Super Dry, Pure Blonde and Bondi Blonde.

Unlike Heineken, that could not be drawn out when it will build a brewery in South Africa, the two beverage giants self-confidently let their competition know well in advance when they would be ready to tackle them head on.

Vietnam’s largest brewer, state-owned, Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp (Sabeco), plans to raise at least USD 557 million from selling 20 percent of its shares in an initial public offering on 28 January 2008.

Sales of beer and quasi-beer beverages are expected to have declined in 2007 amid a flurry of new product launches.

All good things come to an end. After ten years of rising export volumes, Australian winemakers could lose their price advantage on the international market as the Australian dollar trades near a 23-year high and a record drought pushes up the cost of grapes.

Ad man John Singleton has sold his Bluetongue Brewery to Pacific Beverages, a joint venture between Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) and SABMiller.