UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that alcohol duty will increase in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) from 1 February 2026, a decision that has been met with anger within the drinks and hospitality sectors. 

The WSET has appointed Tamara Roberts as chair of its Board of Trustees, taking over from Simon McMurtrie, who has chaired the board since December 2020.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has announced the appointment of the head of beers, wines and spirits at Marks & Spencer as the new chair of its executive board.

Drinks group, Diageo has today announced the appointment of Sir Dave Lewis to the role of chief executive officer and executive director.

Diageo’s interim chief executive, Nik Jhangiani, has stated that the company is “not satisfied” with its current performance following the release of its first quarter trading statement for fiscal 2026.

UK’s leading non-profit for driving inclusivity and diversity within the hospitality industry, Equal Measures, has announced its expansion into supporting underrepresented people working within the UK wine industry.

Italian authorities have seized Campari Group shares worth €1.3 billion from Luxembourg-based holding company Lagfin, amid allegations of tax fraud.

Following its sixteenth edition, co-founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne have announced their acquisition of the brands London Cocktail Week and London Wine Week from the ownership of Speciality Drinks. 

French spirits group Pernod Ricard has reported a decline in sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2026.

Stock Spirits Group has appointed Steven Libermann as its chief executive officer, effective 1 December 2025.

Spiribam has announced that its French subsidiary will handle the distribution of seven new partner brands across France.

Havana Club has announced that Michael Merolli will take over as CEO from industry veteran Christian Barré.

French spirits group Pernod Ricard has reported a 3% decline in organic net sales in fiscal 2025 as trading uncertainties in the US and China continue to hinder growth.

Australian wine group Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has reported a 16% growth in its annual underlying profit results for fiscal 25.

The 15% tariffs on EU imports to the US could result in “more than 25,000 American job losses and nearly $2 billion in lost sales”, a coalition of alcohol associations and guilds has warned.

Spirits giant, Diageo, has revealed a 28% decline in year-on-year operating profits in the 12 months to the end of June.

The EU and US have struck a trade agreement following months of standstill between the economic partners.

Proof & Company Spirits, the distribution arm of Singapore-based spirits and F&B group Proof & Company, has entered provisional liquidation.

Drinks industry not-for-profit, Celebrate Her, has revealed the findings of a global survey, conducted in partnership with Allara Global and CGA by NIQ, that shows the reality of working in the hospitality industry.

Gen Z is now not drinking less than older generations of consumers, IWSR’s latest Bevtrac survey has revealed.

Drinks group Diageo has agreed to the sale of Diageo Operations Italy to Italian-based food and drink company NewPrinces (formerly Newlat Food).

The US government is expected to drop the recommendation that adults limit their alcohol consumption to one or two drinks a day from its dietary guidelines.

French spirits giant Pernod Ricard has announced a restructuring plan that threatens to result in job losses as spirits sales continue to slide.

Indian sprits group, Radico Khaitan, has withdrawn the brand name Trikal from its new range of single malt whisky following criticism surrounding the branding’s religious iconography.

The Rémy Cointreau board of directors has announced Franck Marilly as its new chief executive, taking office on 25 June 2025, succeeding Éric Vallat.

A class action lawsuit filed in the US District Court of the Eastern District of New York has alleged that Diageo North America has falsely marketed its tequila brands as 100% agave.

Pernod Ricard saw its organic net sales decline by 3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 driven by sharp declines in global travel retail.

Suntory Holdings has announced the launch of a new company dedicated to helping communities achieve long-term water security.

Diageo will no longer bring new brands into its Distill Ventures accelerator program, a Diageo spokesperson has confirmed.

Several Canadian provinces have removed American-made liquor from store shelves in retaliation against Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports.

Kirsi Puntila has been appointed the new CEO of Anora Group effective immediately.

Premium spirits business International Beverage, the international arm of Thai Beverage Public Limited Company (ThaiBev) has acquired Asiaeuro International Beverage (AIB).

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has expanded its distribution network in the US with the acquisition of New England-based distributor Horizon Beverage Group.

The zero alcohol drinks market is expected to grow by $4 billion by 2028 according to new data from IWSR.

Johnnie Walker-owner Diageo has been fined £537,000 at Inverness Sheriff Court after a worker suffered severe burns at its Glenlossie Distillery near Elgin.

Suntory Holdings has appointed Nobuhiro (Nobu) Torii, the company’s current executive vice president, as the new president, effective 25 March 2025.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has warned that tariffs proposed by President-elect Trump "are going to hurt US consumers and lead to job losses".

In the Labour government’s first budget in 14 years, chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed that duty on alcohol would increase in line with the Retail Price Index in the new year.

French spirits group Pernod Ricard has announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its Nordic local brand to Finnish multi-beverage company, Oy Hartwall AB.

Nordic wine and spirits brand house, Anora Group, has announced the retirement of chief executive Jacek Pastuszka.

William Grant & Sons has has reached an agreement to purchase The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt brands from Edrington.

French drinks group Rémy Cointreau has appointed Lee James as managing director for its UK, Ireland and Nordic markets.

AB InBev’s ZX Ventures arm has sold Master of Malt, Maverick Drinks and Atom Brands back to original founder Justin Petszaft, six years after acquiring the business. 

Spirits distributor Mangrove Global is bringing a selection of international brands from its independent spirits portfolio to UK customers nationwide, through an extended partnership with supermarket chain Waitrose. 

The group experienced H1 net sales of €1.523 billion, an increase from €1.457 billion during the same period last year.

Diageo has recovered the distribution of all its brands in France which are currently distributed by the joint venture Moët Hennessy Diageo France.

China’s alcohol market recovery has faltered amidst consumer downtrading and high inventories, new IWSR data has revealed.

Maison Ferrand has announced that it has acquired UK-based distributor Identity Drinks marking the launch of Maison Ferrand UK.

Zamora Company has announced record turnover for 2023 with €268 million and a 21.5% increase in sales since 2021.

Danish company Carlsberg has agreed a £3.3bn deal to buy the UK business of Britvic as well as the remaining 40% share in its joint brewing venture with Marston’s.