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.

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.

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.

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.

After Ukraine invasion German and Czech brewers pull out of Russia

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.

AB-InBev ends 2021 on a solid note and forecasts steady annual growth

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.

Germany’s commissioner for drugs wants to raise legal drinking age to 18

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.

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.

Denmark | Carlsberg warned that organic operating profit could grow between zero percent and 7 percent in 2022, down from a 12.5 percent hike in 2021, citing higher costs and continued coronavirus restrictions. In other words, if the worse comes to the worst, operating profit could be flat this year.

United Kingdom | BrewDog found itself back at the centre of controversy, after a BBC Disclosure documentary, which was aired on 24 January 2022, and featured former as well as current staff, made fresh allegations over a “toxic culture” and criticised CEO and co-founder James Watt.