Alcoholic Beverage

Academy of Food and Wine launches Food and Beverage Challenge

19-Sep-2011 By Luke Nicholls

The Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS) has re-launched its chef and front-of-house team menu competition as the AFWS Food & Beverage (FaB) Challenge 2011.

Lib Dems propose new ‘binge drinking’ tax on alcohol

30-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

The Liberal Democrats are considering plans for an additional tax on drinks served in town centre pubs and bars to cover the cost of binge drinking.

Bar Sport aims to open in ‘every major UK town and city’

30-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

The founder of American-style sports bar brand Bar Sport says he is aiming to see a branch in every town and city across the UK as the company’s second site opens in the Midlands.

Staffordshire pub installs bread and milk vending machine

22-Aug-2011 By Adam Pescod

A vending machine selling bread and milk has been installed outside a pub in Staffordshire after its licensee was refused permission to open a shop on the premises.

Premium brands driving on-trade spirits growth

26-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

A growth in cocktails, premium drinking venues and the rise of the Weekend Millionaire has fuelled growth of the spirits market, which is largely driven by premium brands.

Tax increases hit pub and restaurant wine sales

20-Jun-2011 By Tom Allsop

Record tax increases on alcohol are causing consumers to drink wine at home rather than in pubs and restaurants, according to the latest research from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Pubs continue to suffer as drinkers stay at home

13-Jun-2011 By Emma Eversham

Pubs are continuing to suffer from reduced drinks sales as cash-strapped consumers decide to stay at home because they can get better value from shop-bought alcohol.

BBPA calls for more dialogue on Scottish drinks’ policy

24-May-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The BBPA has called for a new dialogue with the Scottish government, following concerns that the pub sector is at risk from certain aspects of the alcohol policy, including tax on beer.

Cider is only alcohol to escape drops in consumption

14-Apr-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Consumption of cider in the UK has increased marginally over the past year, although volumes were down for beer, wine and spirits, according to the latest data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Budget 2011: The pub industry’s reaction

23-Mar-2011 By Becky Paskin

The continuation of the beer tax escalator will not only cost the Treasury money, but lose the pub industry ten thousand jobs this year alone.

Renewed calls for beer duty freeze as consumption falls

11-Mar-2011 By Lorraine Heller

People in the UK are consuming less beer and more strong spirits and wine, according to new consumption figures, prompting renewed calls for a beer duty freeze.

Crabbie’s Ginger Beer launches Orange and Diet varieties

07-Mar-2011 By Becky Paskin

Halewood International is launching two new variants of its popular “adults soft drink” Crabbie’s Ginger Beer – Diet and Twist of Orange.

Wine drinkers spend more but go out less, finds research

17-Feb-2011

Restaurants are the most popular destination for British adult drinkers when they go out, according to new research by the Wilson Drinks Report (WDR).

Quarter of operators fail to upsell wines

14-Feb-2011 By Becky Paskin

A quarter of hospitality operators are missing out on potential revenue by failing to encourage their staff to upsell wines, research has found.

Breakfast: Expanding your offering in pubs

14-Feb-2011 By Lorraine Heller

With some of the biggest high street pub brands moving into the breakfast market, BigHospitality takes a look at why early morning trade makes sense – for some pubs.

Crabbie’s launches non-alcoholic ginger mixers

28-Jan-2011 By Becky Paskin

Halewood international, distributor of Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, has announced the launch of a range of Crabbie’s Ginger Mixers.

Below-cost alcohol ban “won’t impact supermarkets”

18-Jan-2011 By Becky Paskin

The Government has announced a ban on the sale of alcohol below the rate of duty plus VAT – allowing supermarkets to sell beer for just 47p per pint.

On-trade beer sales down 37 per cent on peak levels, says GMB

06-Dec-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Beer sales have fallen again in the year to September 2010, pushing on-trade figures down by 37.8 per cent on peak 2002 levels, figures released by the GMB union have revealed.

Fentimans breaks into alcoholic ginger beer market

26-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

Natural soft drinks manufacturer Fentimans has developed its first ever alcoholic drink using a recipe dating back to the early 20th Century

Profits up at Wetherspoon but Martin condemns hefty tax bill

10-Sep-2010 By Martyn Leek

JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub retailer, has this morning unveiled record sales of £996.3m and a 7.3 per cent increase in profit before tax, but faced a tax bill of over £400m

Fairer tax on beer would create 30,000 jobs, says pub industry

01-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Around 30,000 new jobs would be created if the government gave beer a fair deal in the alcohol duty system the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said today

How to maximise your drink sales: alcohol

27-Aug-2010 By Becky Paskin

More and more alcohol is being consumed at home, so whether you run a hotel, restaurant or bar you need to make sure you maximise your wine, beer and spirit sales to boost profit.

How to maximise your drink sales: the perfect serve

23-Aug-2010 By Becky Paskin

Money made from drinks in food-led operations should account for 30-50 per cent of your total revenue, but even though consumers are now seeking cheaper options, there are a few tricks you can use to help your drinks offering fight back.

World Cup boosts beer sales but supermarkets benefit more than pubs

30-Jul-2010 By Chris Druce

Good weather and the World Cup boosted beer sales in the three months to June, but supermarkets rather than pubs were the main beneficiaries

Four million to watch England World Cup opener in the pub

08-Jun-2010 By Martyn Leek

Up to four million people will watch England play the USA in the World Cup in the pub this Saturday, boosting sales by £35m, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA)

Freezing weather blamed for beer sale slump

21-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

January’s freezing weather has been blamed for an 8.8 per cent fall in beer sales for the first quarter of the year

Government suspends cider duty hike

07-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

The government has suspended plans for a 10 per cent tax increase on cider until after the general election

Budget 2010: Alcohol duty to rise 'as planned'

24-Mar-2010 By Emma Eversham

Duty on alcohol is set to increase by another 2 per cent above inflation as planned under Chancellor Alistair Darling's tax escalator he announced today, despite pleas from the trade to halt it

Moonshine Bars buys Puzzle Pub from administration

29-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

The Puzzle Pub in Horseferry Road, London, has been acquired by Moonshine Bars from the administrators of the Food and Drink Group

BBPA dubs government's alcohol code 'lop-sided'

19-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

The British Beer & Pub Association has called the government's planned mandatory alcohol code 'lop-sided and unbalanced' because it focuses too heavily on pubs and not enough on supermarkets.

Pizza Express introduces low alcohol and low calorie wine range

05-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Pizza Express has added low calorie and low alcohol red and white wines to its Leggera range to appeal to customers watching their weight or alcohol intake and help fulfil its healthy eating commitment to the Food Standards Agency

Sherlock Holmes Hotel's free drinks for sleuths ballet dancers at Little Bay

18-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality takes a look at some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants across the country

18% Brewdog Tokyo beer banned from sale

03-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

Brewdog's 18 per cent Tokyo brand beer has been banned from sale following complaints that a message on the label encouraged excessive drinking

Alcohol sales fall at fastest rate in 60 years

19-Oct-2009 By Becky Paskin

The amount of alcohol bought by UK consumers has fallen at the fastest rate for over 60 years, forcing hospitality operators to adopt inventive promotions

Gov to allow more flexibility on alcohol measures

28-Sep-2009 By Emma Eversham

The government gives the green light to proposals for licensed premises to sell wine in smaller measures and beer and cider in two thirds of a pint glasses

Customer alcohol spend at 37-year low

02-Sep-2009 By Emma Eversham

The amount of money customers spend on alcohol when out drinking is at its lowest level since 1972 according to latest statistics from the British Beer & Pub Association

Drinks promotions to be banned under new code

13-May-2009 By Emma Eversham

Licensed premises will be banned from running all you can drink style promotions and will have to sell wines and spirits in a range of measures under the Governments proposed new code of practice

Chancellor raises alcohol duty by 2% but pledges to help businesses

22-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Chancellor Alistair Darling ignores pleas from the pub industry not to increase alcohol duty in this years Budget, but announces measures to help businesses

Alcohol consumption drops 3.2 per cent

18-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

Alcohol consumption fell by 3.2 per cent in 2008, a drop that saved the economy £804m through reduced alcohol harm

MPs call for ban on pub happy hours and low supermarket prices

10-Nov-2008 By Becky Paskin

Pubs are being called to ban drinks promotions by a group of MPs in a bid to cut alcohol-related crime

Hotels outnumber pubs with 24-hour licenses

31-Oct-2008 By Becky Paskin

The amount of pubs with a 24-hour license to sell alcohol are far outnumbered by hotel bars and supermarkets, according to new figures

Draught beer may be served as two thirds of a pint

24-Oct-2008 By Becky Paskin

A consultation was launched today to decide whether to serve draught beer and cider in two-thirds of a pint measures

Beer voted best match to food

30-Sep-2008 By Emma Eversham

Beer has overtaken wine as the best alcoholic drink match to pub food following a debate on the subject

Battle to find perfect beverage accompaniment to food

25-Sep-2008 By Becky Paskin

A debate between the big beverage names in the industry battle it out to debate the best beer, wine or cider to enjoy with pub grub

Swedish blueberry juice makes great wine alternative

24-Sep-2008 By Becky Paskin

New Swedish blueberry juice hits UK to offer non-drinkers a tasty alternative to wine

Challenge 21 scheme boasts national success

07-Aug-2008 By Becky Paskin

Figures published by the British Beer and Pub Association show the Challenge 21 scheme is taking effect

Pubs and bars face tougher rules on alcohol sales

22-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Pubs and bars could face tougher regulations over the sale of alcohol following a major consultation about Englands drinking culture.

Leblon Launches Super Premium White Cachaca in the UK

18-Mar-2008 By Leblon Cahaca

Leblon Cachaca has plans for a Brazilian revolution with the renaissance and evolution of the caipirinha.

Magners Draught Hits the UK in May

03-Mar-2008 By Noli Dinkovsk

Draught version of the popular Irish cider to be sold excusively through Coors.