Italy | Before covid-19 hit, Italy’s brewers were on a roll. 2019 saw beer production increase to 17.5 million hl (+5 percent) over 2018, causing domestic consumption to rise to over 20 million hl (+2.6 percent) and exports go up by 13 percent to over 3.5 million hl, according to AssoBirra, a trade body.

Denmark | Carlsberg said on 13 August 2020 that it has suspended the second tranche of a share buyback and that it would cut an unspecified number of jobs at its head office in Copenhagen.

The Netherlands | Because of the global pandemic, Heineken saw a lot of declines in the first half of 2020: in beer sales, revenue and profit. So much so that it swung into a loss.

United Kingdom | Although locked-down drinkers may have taken to mixing their own cocktails, this wasn’t enough to stop profit tumbling at the Guinness and Smirnoff owner Diageo.

Belgium | AB-InBev’s performance in the second quarter took a bad hit. Profits were down by a third, while beer sales declined about 17 percent, in line with turnover shrinking 17 percent to USD 10 billion year-on-year.

United Kingdom | Responding to accusations that it has re-labelled old kegs with new best-before-dates, Heineken has said that the unbroached kegs, which had been repatriated during the lockdown, have been kept in optimum conditions and are therefore fit to be redistributed.

Germany | In the first half of 2020, beer sales fell 6.6 percent (or 3 million hl) to around 43 million hl compared with the same period 2019, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported on 30 July 2020.

Denmark | To boost its share price, Carlsberg has issued preliminary first half 2020 figures, and warned that its profit declined while the outlook for summer beer sales remains uncertain.

Ireland | The maker of Magners cider, C&C Group, has appointed Heineken UK’s Managing Director David Forde, 52, as its new CEO. Mr Forde will join C&C at the latest in early 2021.

United Kingdom | What was the government thinking? It designated the US Independence Day – 4 July – as the moment England ends its 15 week-long hibernation and flocks to the pub.