Russia can. And so can Hamburg. Clamp down on alcohol consumption in public places, that is. Arguing that trains and buses are not pubs on wheels, the city’s authorities have ruled that as of 1 September 2011 drinking alcohol on public transport will be illegal. As of 1 October 2011, fines of EUR 40 (USD 58) will be issued to those found wandering around stations and bus stops with as much as an open beer bottle.

After the poor half-year results from the brewers, Diageo’s full-year figures, which it released on 25 August 2011, were a relief to investors. Total sales in the year to June 2011 rose 2 percent to GBP 9.94 billion (EUR 11.2 billion/USD 16.3 billion), with profits overall 5 percent higher at GBP 2.36 billion (EUR 2.7 billion/USD 3.9 billion).

Carlsberg’s dependency on the Russian market must be causing its executives nightmares. After three years of beer consumption declines, first caused by economic woes, then followed by a steep tax hike and now a tough anti-alcohol law, Carlsberg’s top brass has come to realize that a return to growth will only happen after 2013. In the time frame of the financial markets, this is the same as saying “never”, especially given the fact that the worst bit of the law, which President Dmitry Medvedev approved in July, will come into effect in 2013: the prohibition of beer sales by kiosks.

Which planet do investors live on that they expect brewers to keep on growing bigger and ever more profitable while the world economy is entering a dangerous new phase? Shares in Heineken were sent spiralling down after Europe’s top brewer warned that demand for its beer in Europe and the U.S. will remain "challenging" this year.

While the world seems to be on the brink of another financial disaster, AB-InBev gave the markets its usual spiel: all key financial figures pointed upwards in its second quarter ended 30 June 2011. Net profit rose 26 percent to USD 1.45 billion from USD 1.15 billion a year earlier, while revenue increased 8.5 percent to USD 9.52 billion from USD 9.17 billion, said the producer of brands like Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck’s on 11 August 2011.

Who would have thought that the spectacular growth of a brewery start-up would be helped by – indeed – Sweden’s state-owned alcohol monopoly retailer Systembolaget? Doesn’t this run counter to our long-cherished prejudice that the bureaucrats at a monopoly retailer would only like to deal with one albeit big client? Think scale, efficiencies, logistics – the whole "big is best" beer caboodle.

Businesses face the risk of seriously damaging their reputation if they do not make tax planning part of their corporate responsibility programmes, says anti-poverty charity ActionAid.

Mud sticks. In all likelihood the probe by the House of Commons select committee into Heineken’s takeover of brewer Scottish & Newcastle amid allegations that Heineken broke promises to tens of thousands of pensioners, may come to nothing. Or rather it may come to the conclusion that Heineken actually did not dishonour its pension promises. But the fact that the UK’s number two brewer Heineken is being dragged before parliament with all the ensuing negative publicity should be enough to make Heineken’s spin doctors work overtime.

On 21 July 2011 brewer SABMiller reported a rise in first-quarter beer volumes, thanks to continued growth in emerging markets, but kept media guessing if it will top up its bid for Australia’s Fosters.

While Russians were out shopping for a bottle of vodka, Russia’s Parliament voted in a law which could change alcohol consumption quite dramatically. On 13 July 2011 the Russian Duma passed a tough anti-alcohol law which not only prevents the sale of beer at kiosks as of 2013, but also prohibits off-premise sales of beer during the night (between 11pm and 8 am) and alcohol advertising in general. For the first time, fines for drinking beer in various public places were introduced.