United Kingdom | Craft brewers north of the border fret their futures could be sunk by new tax penalties proposed by the UK government on 22 July 2020. The plan, which has yet to be fleshed out, would see the threshold for tax relief reduced by more than half from 5,000 hl to 2,100 hl in annual beer production.

Belgium | CEO Brito’s critics have won. The world’s major brewer is considering external candidates to replace Mr Brito, 60, who has been its CEO for 16 years and has overseen a string of deals which have transformed two Brazilian and Belgian brewers into the global giant AB-InBev.

United Kingdom | The world’s most valuable alcoholic drinks brands could lose up to USD 33 billion worth of brand value as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, a recent Brand Finance report claims.

United Kingdom | Only after some prodding did the competition authority decide to probe the joint venture between UK brewer and pub operator Marston’s and Carlsberg UK, which was announced in May 2020.

United Kingdom | Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has become the latest celebrity to cash in on the popularity of premium spirits. The UK drinks group Diageo has bought the gin brand he co-owns, Aviation American, along with three other spirits as part of a USD 610 million transaction, media reported on 17 August 2020.

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.