Canada | The Canadian government has removed all tariffs on goods from the United States, including alcohol, that are covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) on 1 September.

Boston Beer founder Jim Koch returns as CEO

USA | Is Jim Koch, 76, becoming the Warren Buffett of the craft brewing industry, going on and on? Despite his advanced years, he returned to Boston Beer’s C-suite in mid-August, after the firm’s CEO, Michael Spillane, stepped down due to personal reasons. Mr Spillane has served on Boston Beer’s board of directors since 2016 and became President and CEO in April 2024. He will remain on the board as a nonexecutive director.

USA | The Spaghett, a combination of Miller High Life beer and Aperol, signals weaker consumer spending, which could push the economy into a recession, says the website Business Insider (27 July). Also known as the “NASCAR spritz”, or the “trailer park spritz”, it is a way to fancy up your drink without fancying up the price tag too much. Considering that a typical Aperol spritz could cost anywhere between USD 15 and USD 20 in New York City, the cheaper price of the beer version is a big part of the appeal.

Brewers Association midyear 2025 review: a tough time for all

USA | The Brewers Association’s 2025 Midyear Report, published on 23 July, shows an industry still facing strong headwinds. Yet, some craft brewers fare better than others, especially the smallest on-site brewers. As of June 2025, 9269 craft breweries were operating in the US, down 1 percent from a year ago.

Your wish is my command: Coca-Cola to launch cola with cane sugar

USA | After a nudge from President Donald Trump to use cane sugar instead of corn syrup in its beverages Coca-Cola quickly complied. A new product line will be launched in the autumn, media reported on 22 July. However, Coke has made it clear that the new cola line will just be an additional offering. Corn syrup will continue to be used in its core range.

Canada’s Beer Store adds more locations to a growing list of closures

Canada | The increased competition from stores allowed to sell beer for the first time has forced the Ontario-based beer retail chain The Beer Store to shrink. It has already shuttered around 50 stores this year, with an additional ten stores closing in August and another ten in September.

Missouri’s American Beer Act: a tax cut to support local industries

USA | Missouri has signed a law that will cut taxes on US beer to lowest in the nation. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, a Republican, signed the American Beer Act into law on 10 July, in a bid to support the malt industry, manufacturing and jobs overall. The ceremony took place outside AB-InBev’s St. Louis Brewery.

USA | Some marijuana companies and trade groups are pushing US Congress to close a loophole that allows the production and sale of intoxicating substances derived from legal hemp. The hemp industry, however, wants to leave the federal definition of hemp unchanged. The current Farm Bill is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year 2025. This means Congress will need to reauthorise or revise the existing legislation.

Indigenous groups oppose Heineken’s brewery project in Mexico

Mexico | Mayan communities and activists have condemned the construction of a Heineken brewery in Kanasin in the state of Yucatan and reject the alleged indigenous consultation that the company claims to have carried out for approval at the end of 2024. “We know nothing about this consultation,” declared the communities, which are part of the Assembly of Defenders of the Mayan Territory of Múuch' Xíinbal, in June.

Constellation’s beer sales decline in quarter until end of May

USA | Constellation Brands’ CEO Bill Newlands blamed “non-structural socioeconomic factors” for his firm’s declining beer sales. In the first quarter of its financial year 2026 (the three months ended 31 May), Constellation’s beer depletions dipped 2.6 percent, while shipments (to retailers and consumers) dropped 3.3 percent.