Peter Darybshire: We need to talk about alcohol

New lobbying group the Healthy Drinking Alliance, set up by Peter Darbyshire, is making inroads with MPs and retailers, but will it win over the trade?

LWF: WSTA's chief warns of uncertainty ahead for trade

At the London Wine Fair 2016 held last week at Kensington Olympia, chief executive officer of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) warned the trade may face some challenges in the year ahead following the Chief Medical Officer's revised guidelines for alcohol consumption.

From an MW inside Parliament: What the wine trade needs to do to combat duty hikes

Conal Gregory, the only Master of Wine to have been elected to Parliament, warns that there is no hope for duties to be reduced or even frozen if there is no effective campaign fighting that battle. He gives tactical tips on what the trade could do better to combat future hikes.

Benevolent appoints four new trustees to help further engagement with the UK trade

The Benevolent has appointed Diana Hunter of Conviviality Plc, Guy Lawrence of Mast-Jägermeister UK, Rita Greenwood of Wiliam Grant & Sons UK and Simon Difford of Difford's Guide to help further the Drinks Industry Charity to engage with trade.

Analysis: The wine trade has a case of 'Budget Blues' and rightfully so

The wine trade has a case of the 'Budget Blues. While spirits, beer and cider saw a duty freeze in the 2016 Budget, wine duty was handed an increase in line with inflation.

Jerry Lockspieser: Are you an Inner or an Outer?

Are you an "inner" or an "outer"? This is not a question about bicycle tyres but the increasingly vexed matter of where you stand on Britain's membership of the European Union.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Anita Jackson, Wines of Chile

Anita Jackson, UK director of Wines of Chile, looks back at a successful 2015, with volume and value figures up over the previous year.  She was particularly pleased with the success of the innovative Mercado Andino tasting in 2015. But over the Christmas period she looking forward to putting her feet up and enjoy a little down time before 2016, where she sees the biggest challenge ahead is getting consumers to trade up in their wine purchases. 

Benevolent Northern Ball raises over £21,000

The Benevolent Northern Ball, which was held last Friday at The Mere Resort in Knutsford, Cheshire has raised over £21,000.

TWE team's walk for The Benevolent raises £25,000

A team from Treasury Wine Estates raised more than £25,000 for trade charity The Benevolent.

Scotch whisky wins legal recognition in 17 African nations

Scotch whisky producers are celebrating after the drink was given geographical indication protection by 17 African countries.

Sparkling wine continues to fizz with on-trade sales up by more than half in a year

Sparkling wine is the star performer in the drinks trade with the value of on-trade sales up by more than half in the year to July 7, according to Nielsen figures in the third quarter market report from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.

European spirits body welcomes court statement on minimum pricing for alcohol

The body which represents spirits producers across the EU has welcomed yesterday's European Court of Justice statement that casts doubt on the legality of minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

European Court says minimum unit pricing may be illegal

£25m recycling plant will improve glass quality for Scotch whisky makers

A new £25 million glass recycling facility in North Lanarkshire could give a boost to Scotch whisky makers.

UK rises 11% as WSET sees global take-up of courses increase for 13th year in a row

Most mums-to-be think official alcohol guidance stricter than it is, Drinkaware research shows

New and expectant mums have stricter views on drinking during pregnancy than the current government guidelines according to research from the responsible alcohol information charity Drinkaware.

'No reason' UK gin exports can't match Scotch whisky's £4 billion says environment secretary

The environment secretary Elizabeth Truss has said the UK government has ambitions to help the gin industry match the UK's whisky exports, which topped £4 billion in 2014.

Alcohol consumption among under-18s at a record low in 2014, UK government statistics show

New government statistics show that the number of 11- to 15-year-olds drinking alcohol has fallen to a record low.

Beer Academy launches first online course to equip on-trade staff with the basics

Training organisation the Beer Academy has launched an online Beer Steward qualification, which enables on-trade staff to gain a sound understanding of the basics of beer, from brewing to serving customers.

WSTA chief critical of Welsh government move to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol

The Welsh government has been condemned by a drinks industry leader for following Scotland's lead in outlining plans for minimum unit pricing.