Beer sales continue to fall in on-trade
Sales of beer in bars and pubs are continuing to fall, according to the quarterly beer barometer from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). On-trade sales were down 4.7 per cent in July, August and September compared to the same period last year. At the same time, sales in supermarkets and the rest of the off-trade rose by 4.4 per cent, contributing to a fall of 0.8 per cent in the overall beer market. The BBPA says the fall highlighted the need for the Government to reduce tax on beer.

Globe Pub Company “to be sold to Heineken”
The Globe Pub Company, which runs 421 pubs and bars, is set to be bought by Heineken, according to reports last week. The group, which was created four years ago by financier Robert Tchenquiz when his R20 company bought pubs from Spirit Group, was said to be on the brink of being placed into receivership. The outlets are already run by Heinek en’s Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises.
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New Zealander wins Stella Artois competition
The annual Stella Artois World Draught Master competition, held this year in New York, has been won by Avril Maxwell representing New Zealand. She beat other competitors from around the world, including Will Maltby, from the Princess Victoria in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, who won the UK finals.

Smooth new silver tequila from Jose Cuervo
Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, a smooth new tequila, has been launched by Diageo GB, targeting young adult males who already enjoy white spirits. It replaces Jose Cuervo Clasico.

Agreement transfers Jongleurs to Intertain
Intertain, the company formed to buy 60 sites from Regent Inns, has signed a licensing agreement to continue running the failed company’s Jongleurs chain of 10 comedy clubs until the beginning of January. Regent Inns went into administration on October 20 but, in a pre-pack arrangement, the bars and pubs including Walkabout were sold to the new company run by its former directors, John Leslie and Mike Foster, alongside Mike Dowell from Pitcher & Piano.

Sambuca-based RTDs launched by Hi-Spirits
A new range of premium-packaged drinks has been launched by Hi-Spirits: Sambuca Longshots, developed from its Antica range of flavoured Italian sambucas. Served ice cold from the fridge, Longshots allow bartenders to serve long flavoured sambuca-based drinks quickly and easily. There are two flavours: Raspberry Refresher, mixing raspberry sambuca and lemon, and Black Bite, mixing black sambuca and lemon.

US state bans Fentimans lemonade for under-21s
Fentimans Victorian Lemonade has been banned for under-21s in the US state of Maine because it can contain up to 0.5 per cent alcohol. The alcohol is produced naturally in the soft drink through the botanical brewing process, which includes a seven-day period of fermentation. The Northumberland-based soft drinks producer has questioned the decision of the Maine officials who deemed it an “imitation liquor” which is “any product containing less than half of one per cent alcohol by volume which appears to imitate by appearance, taste and smell liquor or which is designed to carry the impression to the purchaser that the beverage has an alcohol content”.

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Stylish soft drinks from Luscombe

Discerning non-drinkers and drivers will find much to celebrate with Luscombe’s collection of stylish soft drinks. The sophisticated range of juices and drinks offers a varied and interesting selection, meaning that everyone – drinkers and non-drinkers alike – can relax with a great-tasting drink, without alcohol, either on its own or with food.

And for those who want to enter into the wine experience, Luscombe is presenting a selection of red, white and rosé fruit drinks. Wild Blueberry Crush (red), Raspberry Lemonade (rosé) and Wild Elderflower Bubbly (white/champagne) can each be drunk on their own or with food.