Engagement with alcoholic drinks brands on social media has increased by more than 300% during the coronavirus lockdown, according to social analytics agency ListenFirst.

Diageo has suspended share buybacks for the rest of the year as a result of financial uncertainty sparked by the coronavirus outbreak.

Drinks International is pleased to announce the winners of our Wine Design Awards and Drinks Marketing Challenge 2020. 

South African producers have received permission to export their wine around the world after intensive lobbying efforts over the past week.

Bacardi has launched a multi-point plan called #RaiseYourSpirits to help bars and bartenders in the UK & Ireland combat the coronavirus crisis.

Amber Beverage Group has appointed Beverage Partners Finland (BPF), part of the Hans Just Group, as its distributor in Finland.

Pernod Ricard has pledged Rs 15 crore ($2 million) to boost healthcare facilities across India as it prepares to battle the coronavirus outbreak.

Members of the British drinks trade that have lost their income due to the coronavirus outbreak can apply for a one-off grant worth £250 this week.

Damien Guichard, bar manager at the Truffle Pig since 2019, has been named Bar Convent Berlin’s first brand ambassador.

Remy Cointreau expects to report a 9% decrease in revenue for the 2019/20 fiscal year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

A new initiative promises to transform shuttered British bars into click and collect food stores during the coronavirus crisis.

Alcoholic beverage sales in the US increased 55% year-on-year during the week to March 21 as shoppers stocked up ahead of a long coronavirus lockdown.

The Drinks Trust has fundraised more than £400,000 to support members of the drinks industry who have been left in financial crisis as a result of COVID-19.

Bars and nightclubs will be the last businesses to reopen when Italy’s coronavirus lockdown ends, a leading virologist has warned.

Sales of beer, wine and spirits grew by a remarkable 67% in the UK off-trade during the week to March 21.

Digital happy hours, online mixology sessions and virtual tip jars are helping bartenders make ends meet amid the coronavirus lockdown. 

Asia’s 50 Best Bars has decided to replace its on-site awards ceremony, originally due to take place in Singapore on 14 May, with a digital countdown.

Britain’s pub, bar and restaurant group sales plummeted 71% in the week that the  UK government ordered all licensed premises to close down because of the COVID-19 virus.

South African wineries are now permitted to finish the 2020 harvest after the government added them to the list of essential businesses during the coronavirus lockdown.

Iconic Californian producer Daou Vineyards is ramping up its focus on exports in a bid to put Paso Robles on the international wine map.

The first round of results for the International Spirits Challenge 2020 have been released for baijiu, soju, shochu, liqueurs & specialities, tequila, mezcal and other agave spirits.

Denomination strategy director Mariella Menato believes looking after members of the on-trade is an important step for brands to take during the Coronavirus crisis.

The US off-trade has seen soaring sales of wine, spirits and beer as shoppers stocked up ahead of a lengthy coronavirus lockdown, according to Nielsen stats.

Bacardi has set up a $3m fund to help bar owners and bartenders make ends meet during the global coronavirus lockdown.

Liquor stores will be permitted to remain open in New York, New Jersey and California during the coronavirus pandemic after they were declared “essential businesses”.

The London Wine Fair is the latest high profile-event to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the world.

Zamora Company has implemented a series of measures to alleviate the effects that COVID-19 is having on social life and business in Spain.

Leading online wine retailer Laithwaite’s has assured customers that it will continue to keep them well stocked after demand shot up amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The Wine Institute of California has argued that wineries are an “essential business” and should be allowed to maintain operations during a lockdown.

An award-winning start-up that produces net carbon negative vodka in New York City has redirected its entire production capacity towards making hand sanitizer.

Guinness producer Diageo has launched a £1m St Patrick’s Day fund to help bars pay their staff during these difficult times.

AB Inbev has drawn down the entirety of a $9bn loan facility from global banks as it bids to ride out the coronavirus outbreak.

As a precaution due to COVID-19 Bacardí has postponed the 12th annual Bacadrí Legacy Cocktail Competition until further notice.

The British pub and bar industry will be lost within days if the government does not take swift action to prop it up, leading operators have warned.

Spiritseurope has written to the Luxembourg Ministry for Health and Economic Affairs to caution against prospective plans to raise the legal purchasing age for spirits, but not for beer or wine.

St Patrick’s Day could become a sombre affair this year as bars across the world have been forced to shut their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Franklin & Sons has launched two new mixers aimed at dark spirits fans that want to experiment with different long drinks.

The TFWA board and management committee has decided to cancel the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference due to be held in Singapore on May 10-14.

Christian Davis has stepped down as editor of Drinks International after 13 years on the magazine.

ProWein 2020 is postponing its show in Dusseldorf this month due to Coronavirus fears.

New HMRC figures show that the number of distilleries registered in the UK last year increased 22% to 441.

Asia’s 50 Best Bars will take place in Singapore for the third year in a row as it returns in 2020 on 14 May.

The top major accolades at Tuesday night’s Class Bar Awards in London were presented to leading female members of the UK bar industry.

The continued premiumisation of tonic has changed the level of expectation consumers have for simple serves such as the G&T.

Homeboy owners Aaron Wall and Ciarán Smith have decided to roll out their Islington-based Irish bar to other parts of London and even further afield, Drinks International can exclusively reveal.

Edinburgh hospitality figures Sian Buchan and John Mclellan will open their debut bar in early February – Uno Mas Bar, Drinks International can exclusively reveal.

Vinexpo chief executive Rodolphe Lameyse says that Vinexpo Paris will have a bigger focus on spirits and bartending than any previous variations.

Chelsie Bailey will take over the management reins of Happiness Forgets in London, signalling an end to a nine-year bartending career in Bristol, Drinks International can exclusively reveal.

Monica Berg of London's Tayer + Elementary has launched a free online ‘safe space’ business tool for hospitality employees to anonymously flag concerns or issues of workplace discrimination.

Davies and Brook opens today at Claridge’s, a restaurant bar that brings celebrated New York chef Daniel Humm and bartenders Leo Robitschek and Pietro Collina to London.