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Globe with map of Ukraine (photo: Jan Reinicke on Unsplash)

Ukraine | Shortly after Russia’s invasion on 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian craft brewer Pravda, which is based in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, released the recipes for five of its best-selling beers, encouraging other breweries to use them to raise money for its cause.

Computers with anonymous-mask (photo: stillness in motion on Unsplash)

United Kingdom | James Watt, the co-founder and CEO of BrewDog, says a criminal prosecution is under way for fraud and malicious communication over an alleged campaign of online harassment directed against him.

People demonstrating with ukrainian flags (photo: Chuko Cribb/Unsplash)

Europe | Political pressure and safety concerns have prompted Western companies to close operations in Russia and Ukraine. Brewers Heineken and Carlsberg have stopped the production and sale of their namesake beers in Russia and will assess the future of their businesses there.

Protesters against war in Ukraine (Photo: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash)

Russia | A growing number of international companies, including Apple, Disney and Ford, are dialling back operations in Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Entertainment studios, like Disney and WarnerMedia, have stopped releasing films in the country, while sneaker maker Nike, home furnishings firm IKEA and fashion retailer H&M temporarily have closed their shops.

Graffiti Tax Man on red brickwall (Photo: Jon Tyson on Unsplash)

Poland | Following the recent excise hike, it is feared that Polish consumers could develop a new habit: self-importing their beer from neighbouring countries like Germany and the Czech Republic, where it is far cheaper.

Glass of beer (Josh Olalde on Unsplash)

Germany | The covid pandemic has hit the German brewing industry hard. Not only have millions of hl in volume sales been wiped out, the total of operating breweries has also declined – the first time in a decade.

Protesters demonstrate against Putin’s war (Photo by Ahmed Zalabany on Unsplash)

Germany | The two largest brewers in the Czech Republic, Budweiser Budvar and Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell), as well as several large German brewers have stopped their beer exports to Russia. “In the current crisis and extremely uncertain situation, we have suspended all production and supplies intended for the Russian market. We consider commercial issues as secondary,” a spokesperson for the state-owned brewer Budweiser Budvar told the website praguemorning.cz on 3 March 2022.

Brown Budweiser Bottles on a shelf (Photo: Heshan Perera on Unsplash)

Belgium | AB-InBev forecast on 24 February 2022 that its profit would increase this year, in line with its medium-term growth range, after ending 2021 with stronger results than expected.

Lady Justice balancing the scales (Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash)

Germany | The Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drugs, Burkhard Blienert, a Social Democrat, has spoken out in favour of raising the legal drinking age for beer and wine to 18, from currently 16. “For me, there are many medical arguments in favour of raising the legal drinking age for beer, wine and sparkling wine to 18,” he told the newspaper Die Welt on 18 February 2022.

Person drinking from a green Heineken bottle (Photo by Daniel Wirtz on Unsplash)

The Netherlands | Heineken said the longer-term outlook has become cloudier as inflationary pressures squeeze consumers, raising the risk that they will cut back on beer.

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