Authorities in Malaysia's Sabah state uncovered two separate liquor smuggling cases within a single week this month, the latest in a string of incidents that officials and industry observers link to the country's steep alcohol taxes and an unusual quirk in its tax code that has turned a nearby duty-free island into a smuggling gateway. Read More
Beer
Beer sales in India jumped 17% in the April-June quarter as rising taxes on spirits widened the price gap between the two categories, industry data show. Read More
A Chinese national who orchestrated a scheme to smuggle beer into Singapore by declaring shipments as food and industrial machinery was sentenced to 164 days in jail after failing to pay a S$560,000 (US$437,000) fine, authorities said. Read More
Police in Bandung, Indonesia, have seized 6,624 bottles of alcoholic beverages suspected of bearing counterfeit excise stamps, the latest in a series of cases highlighting tax evasion in the country’s alcohol trade. Read More
Strong sales in Japan and India helped Suntory’s alcohol revenue return to growth, but weakening US demand, distributor destocking and rising supply-chain costs dealt a sharp blow to profits. Read More
The World Cup is usually a goldmine for drinks companies. Not this time. Chinese merchants say midnight kick-offs have killed the tournament's biggest sales opportunity. Read More
China has officially named its 80 biggest drinks chains for the first time. The leader runs more than 3,500 stores; the gap to No. 80 is over 350-fold. Read More
73% of alcohol deliveries now go to homes, while more than 90% of trade players warn the once-dominant banquet- and wedding-driven growth model is no longer sustainable.
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Shipments of Japanese alcoholic beverages denied entry into China surged sharply in January, according to Chinese customs data, as political tensions between the two countries intensify. Read More
India’s southern state of Karnataka will introduce a new alcohol tax system based on Alcohol-in-Beverage (AIB) from April, a reform that could lower prices for beer and wine while potentially increasing taxes on stronger spirits. Read More