It did not only rain a lot in Europe, it was also pouring down in China over the summer, it seems. SABMiller reported lower beer sales for the past quarter (July to September) and for the six months on 14 October 2014. Fortunately, SABMiller could boast of a 5 percent rise in first-half revenues as higher prices offset the impact of lower beer sales.

After having worked together for years across the globe, Gea Process Engineering recently announced the acquisition of Scan-Vibro A/S from Svendborg in Denmark.

It was so Hollywood teen movie-ish: boring, unattractive and never-been-kissed geek makes pass at gorgeous high school prom queen in front of the whole class and gets brushed off.

When will the decline in Russian beer consumption bottom out? Russia’s beer sales have dropped more than 25 percent in the period from 2008 to 2013 and a further seven percent in the first six months of 2014. Brewers have responded by scaling back capacities and closing breweries.

Good grief – what will the number pushers, aka statisticians, come up with next? The Morning Advertiser, a UK trade publications, reported on 1 October 2014 that some guys at the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have worked out that UK consumers spend more every year on illegal drugs and prostitution than on beer and wine.

Phew – they would have been relieved. Several big names in the retail and beverage industry have welcomed Scotland’s decision to remain part of the UK on 19 September 2014, after the likes of Diageo and DIY company Kingfisher had warned ahead of the vote that an independent Scotland would lead to higher prices.

Beware of their pitchforks. The Swedish Farmers’ Association LRF has filed a complaints notification with the EU commission against the ban of cellar door sales in Sweden, local media reported on 18 September 2014.

Looks like the going will get a lot tougher as the Polish beer market turns mature. Brewer Zywiec, the Polish unit of Dutch brewer Heineken, will spin off a unit responsible for sales and distribution to small retailers and hospitality clients, Zywiec said in a market filing on 26 September 2014.

What’s that supposed to mean? On Sunday 14 September 2014 Bloomberg news agency reported that, according to rumour, the world’s number two brewer SABMiller had approached the world’s number three, Heineken, with a takeover offer.

In many respects, Sweden must be the most libertarian country in the world – but not when it comes to alcohol. Many of the rules and regulations in place to control (read: limit) the consumption of alcohol would have to be called ridiculous if the whole matter were not so critical.