Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Liquor license fee hike rolled back: Karnataka government cuts excise fee by 50% after vendor protests
The Karnataka government reduced the excise license fee for liquor vendors by 50% after widespread protests. The renewal period has also been extended to five years, easing the burden on wine merchants and boosting vendor support. Bengaluru: The...

Wine GB Awards see record still wine entries
Entries for still wines surpassed those of sparkling wines for the first time ever at the Wine GB Awards. The competition, now in its ninth edition, saw still wines account for 54% of all entries. They also secured more awards overall, taking 161...

Wine brand unveils new name for global recognition
Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has announced a new name and brand identity, ‘Treasury Collective’, as part of a broader market update on business performance and its portfolio-led divisional operating model. Officially commencing on 1 July 2025, the...

Wine, moderation & pleasure
While I was researching this article, it quickly became apparent that discussing alcohol consumption and moderation wouldn’t be a straightforward affair. Stakeholders come to the table with assumptions, agendas and moral viewpoints that often...

White House slams California governor for wine tasting during riots
Tension is escalating between the Trump administration and the governor of California after Gavin Newsom was seen attending a charity wine event while LA riots raged over immigration this month. On 6 June crowds of people took to the streets to...

Which style of alcohol-free beer is better for your health?
A new study by German scientists has compared the impact of three styles of non-alcoholic beer — pilsner, mixed beer and wheat beer — on the health of a group of young men. Alcohol-free beer has boomed in recent years. More than 120 million pints...

A decade of Italian Wine Brands
As Italian Wine Brands (IWB) celebrates its 10th anniversary, the group reflects on its journey – from its Milan Stock Exchange listing to its growth in 90 global markets, and especially in the UK. Alessandro Mutinelli, president and CEO of IWB,...
IChemE and STEM Returners launch partnership to support returners back to industry after career break
IChemE is proud to announce a new, trailblazing partnership with STEM Returners, launching on 23 June 2025 to coincide with International Women in Engineering Day (INWED25). This collaboration is designed to support professionals re-entering...

OCEANIA CRUISES® NAMES A COLLECTION OF FOOD & WINE BEST NEW CHEFS AS GODPARENTS OF NEWEST SHIP
Oceania Cruises®, the world’s leading culinary- and destination focused luxury cruise line, will team up with a selection of Food & Wine Best New Chefs alumni who will serve as Godparents of its newest ship, Oceania Allura™, debuting in July 2025....

Reeves’s tariffs prove a headache for Spanish winemakers
Fermented from grapes ripened in the sun-soaked southern climes, Spanish wines have a long-held reputation for being a shade more powerful than their delicate European cousins. While that boldness has for decades been a draw among oenophiles...
Kate Nicholls: ‘Extended Producer Responsibility could impose yet another significant financial burden on the sector’
With an array of challenges currently facing the UK restaurant sector, the last thing operators need are new regulations that force them to pay twice for the same service. However, that’s exactly what is about to happen to hospitality businesses...

Is the food industry failing Europe’s children
The food industry is under fire for the poor quality of foods aimed specifically at babies and toddlers. And the critics are pulling no punches. “They’re conning parents,” says nutritionist Dr Vicky Sibson, director of First Steps Nutrition Trust....

Scottish industry leaders call to support local red meat over imports
24th June 2025 Author: Aleksandra Cupriak Scottish meat industry leaders have highlighted the strong demand and support for Scotland’s efficient, low-emissions beef, pork and lamb at a critical time for the trade. Quality Meat Scotland and the...

What do the Irish drink?
IrishCentral takes a look at some of the other weird and wonderful popular brews that get the Irish taste buds flowing. Irish Stout What better place to start than Ireland's world-famous Irish stout, Guinness? Often referred to as "the black...

River Irwell, sewage and privatised water industry highlighted at public meeting
The River Irwell, sewage, water industry investment and profits will be discussed at a public meeting this week. Campaigners say the Irwell, which rises north of Bacup and flows through Rossendale and Ramsbottom to Greater Manchester, goes a...

Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food and drink, study finds
By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Ripping the plastic wrap from the meat or prepackaged fruit and veggies you purchased at the grocery store may contaminate your food with micro- and nanoplastics, according to new research. Plastic contamination may...

GRA’s digital tax stamp embraced as boost to business industry
The move, part of a broader digitalisation of tax administration, is being hailed for its positive impact on compliance, transparency, and fair competition. Introduced in 2024 following an agreement between the government of Gambia and SICPA, the...

Major bank pledges $17 billion to projects in new sector: 'The technology of the future'
The investment will take place in the form of loans. by Maris ToalsonJune 24, 2025 While some financial institutions are funding dirty energy, others are investing in more environmentally friendly opportunities. The European Investment Bank is...

Meta is absent from SF Pride this year, as tech industry retreats from public support of LGBTQ+
Parade goers hold Pride flags during the annual Pride Parade in San Francisco on Sunday, June 29, 2024. Minh Connors | San Francisco Chronicle | Hearst Newspapers | Getty Images Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is staying mum these days when it comes to...

Thinking Drinkers to visit three Cumbrian pubs on 1,000 mile bike ride
Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland, the comedy duo known as the 'Thinking Drinkers', are visiting the pubs as part of their bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats. The tour is part of a campaign to celebrate the role pubs play in communities and to...