At the time of going to press, rumours were rife among stock market analysts that InBev, the world’s largest brewer, is contemplating a bid for Anheuser Busch, owner of Budweiser and the biggest US brewer, with more than 40 per cent of that market. Earlier rumours that the two brewers were in discussion over a possible merger have been superceded by speculation of an outright…

Leading international drinks firms have welcomed a global resolution to reduce alcohol abuse, agreed by members of the assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO). All 193 WHO members signed up to a resolution to reduce alcohol-related harm at the World Health Assembly in Geneva last month (see Drinks International, May). Alcohol is linked to 1.8 million deaths worldwide every year, and is believed to…

Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Mika Häkkinen have signed up to Diageo’s Johnnie Walker responsible drinking campaign. Before last month’s Monaco Grand Prix, which Hamilton won, the two were on hand to publicise the programme, which will be launched formally across Europe later this year. The Finn and twice Formula One world champion launched the campaign in Asia in April. Additional events were held…

All major New World wine countries have begun talks on pulling out of the Vinexpo trade show, in favour of rival wine fairs around the world. The talks, which Drinks International understands are at a “very embryonic” stage, involve generic wine trade bodies for all big New World countries, including the likes of Australia, California, Chile, South Africa and New Zealand. A collective walkout from…

Spain’s Jerez region needs to grub up vines to balance supply and demand, according to Sherry council director general Cesar Saldana. Speaking to Drinks International at the London International Wine Fair last month, he said Jerez could lose up to a quarter of its vineyards under EU wine market reforms, which are set to begin in August. But rather than oppose a grubbing up scheme,…

Trinidad-based rum group Angostura is launching a Facebook-style website aimed at providing an online community for bartenders and mixologists around the world. The site, myspeedrail.com, went live on May 13 in its initial "beta release" phase. For two or three months before a full launch, a select group of up to 200 top bartenders will have access to the site to assess how it works…

German city Mainz is set to join the likes of Bordeaux and Cape Town as one of the world’s Great Wine Capitals. Mainz, located on the Rhine and at the heart of Germany’s vineyards, has been accepted by the Great Wine Capital (GWC) network following a visit by officials in April. GWC includes the cities Bordeaux, Cape Town, Florence, Mendoza, Mel-bourne, Oporto, Bilbao-Rioja and San…