United Kingdom | Pubs could be shut for months to come, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a third national shutdown on 6 January 2021.

United Kingdom | Over the course of three nationwide lockdowns and various coronavirus restrictions, Britain lost around 6,000 pubs and licensed premises in 2020. This is nearly three times as many as in 2019, according to the Market Recovery Monitor by consultants CGA and business advisory firm AlixPartners.

Russia | Brewer Anadolu Efes said that the Russian beer industry showed improvement during 2020, as the covid-19 related restrictions were relatively light during the summer months. But on the pricing side, competition was very high throughout the past year, which actually boosted volume growth.

United Kingdom | The Competition regulator announced on 8 January 2021 that it will probe Diageo’s intended purchase of Chase Distillery.

United Kingdom | Scottish craft brewer BrewDog said that it is in talks with the UK government about using its closed bars as temporary coronavirus vaccination centres. It also said it would give anyone vaccinated at one of its bars a commemorative can of beer.

Czech Republic | As if the first lockdown had not been bad enough for the country’s brewers, the lack of foreign tourists over the summer and a second lockdown in the autumn will prove an unmitigated disaster for everyone.  

Italy | The Campari Group (Cinzano, Aperol, Skyy Vodka), headquartered in Milan with an annual turnover of EUR 1.8 billion (USD 2.2 billion), is one of the world’s largest spirits firms. In early November, the company became the victim of a cyber attack.

United Kingdom | Championing diversity and inclusion is good for business. In November 2020 the world’s number one drinks company Diageo published its most recent ten-year sustainability action plan.

United Kingdom | Both Camden Town’s CEO Adam Keary and founder Jasper Cuppaidge will step down from their roles, as the owner, AB-InBev, seeks to restructure the craft brewer and fully integrate it into the wider group.

Germany | With beer production declining almost 5 percent in the first ten months of 2020, some 380 breweries have asked the taxman to defer their excise payments until the end of this year.