Belgium | AB-InBev reported an unexpected fall in quarterly sales volumes after two price increases in the United States. But American beer drinkers are now getting over their “sticker shock”, CEO Michel Doukeris assured investors.

United Kingdom | Skyrocketing costs and plunging sales are hitting the pub industry hard, causing bankruptcies in the sector to soar by 83 percent in one year, according to UHY Hacker Young, a firm of chartered accountants

United Kingdom | Courting controversy, BrewDog has struck a deal with Budweiser China to brew BrewDog’s flagship beers by the end of March at its Putian craft brewery.

Netherlands | Heineken purchased EUR 1 billion (USD 1.1 billion) worth of its shares from FEMSA, after the Mexican Coca-Cola bottler launched a EUR 3.7 billion sale for part of its holdings in the Dutch group.

Switzerland | Belated justice. A Geneva appeal court acquitted Farida Chorfi, the Belgian ex-lawyer of the Bailo de Spoelberch family, from money laundering and forgery charges.

Denmark | Carlsberg said that it intends to raise prices this year in response to higher input costs but warned that the move may impact sales in some of its key markets.

Netherlands | The Dutch brewer’s volume sales returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, with premium brands outperforming the rest of the portfolio, Heineken reported on 15 February.

Russia | Even Russian beer sales data have become political. In recent press reports, there was no mention of the drop in sales in the 4^th quarter, nor the decline in imports. Only this much: 2022 beer production was said to have been flat over 2021.

Ukraine | Despite a war raging, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conducted a purge of high-ranking officials deemed corrupt and continued his strive to “de-shadow” the alcohol market.

United Kingdom | Diageo shares dropped to their lowest in seven months on 26 January, after the company said sales volumes fell in three of its most important markets at the end of 2022.