WSET says the redesign reflects a more global, digital-first future but critics argue it has stripped away the prestige and heritage that once defined the qualification. Read More
Spirits
South Korea’s soju makers are introducing smaller formats and alcohol-free products as they try to reconnect with millennials and Gen Z consumers, who are increasingly turning away from traditional drinking culture. Read More
After a year of decline, China’s spirits imports showed early signs of recovery in 2026, with value growth far outpacing volume, pointing to a shift in market structure. 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
French spirits maker Pernod Ricard reported declines in both sales and profit in the first half of its 2026 fiscal year, with sharp contractions in China and the US weighing on overall performance. Read More
After concluding free trade agreements with the EU, the UK and New Zealand, India’s alcohol market is now set to welcome another major player. Read More
French wine and spirits export volumes fell last year to their lowest level in at least a quarter-century, and industry leaders see little immediate relief ahead. Read More
A massive cross-border booze smuggling ring has been busted in southern China after authorities seized more than half a million bottles of wine and premium spirits worth over RMB 575 million (US$80 million). Read More
Sotheby’s said its wine and spirits division generated US$127.5 million in sales in 2025, up nearly 12% from a year earlier and double the level recorded a decade ago. Read More
Over the course of a single year, China’s brandy import value fell by more than US$500 million, while whisky import volume rose by more than 6.65 million litres — equivalent to nearly nine million additional 750-ml bottles. Read More