The cider market has been growing rapidly in Australia, and Australia’s major consumer advocacy group has now undertaken further research on this. In recent taste-test research conducted by CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer group, CHOICE found the three top-ranked ciders to be a low alcohol French cider, Boulard Cidre de Normandie Doux, British Aspall Draught Suffolk Cider and Australian Mercury Dry Cider. CHOICE reviewed all of the popular ciders consumed in Australia including cider beverages... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s leading diabetes experts has criticized a reported study published in the journal Nature, on February 2, 2012 that was written by Dr Robert Lustig, Dr Laura Schmidt and Dr Claire Brindis of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The co-authors  claimed that high consumption of sugar “largely mirrors the effects of drinking too much alcohol” and should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco. Dr Alan Barclay, head of research at the Australian Diabetes Council,... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has reported that its new technologies for the self-manufacture of lighter PET plastic beverage bottles delivered a reduction in the carbon footprint of each bottle by 22%. This is said to be equivalent to 1700 cars being removed from Sydney roads per year. CCA’s claims are set out in a detailed Corporate Responsibility Report issued this week by the company. The Corporate Responsibility Report ironically coincides with recent financial reporting by CCA that  featured its... ...Read more »

A report commissioned by the Australian Government has found that its own alcohol guidelines are considered “unrealistic” and “confusing”. The report, published by market research company Horizon Research, evaluated effectiveness of the government’s ‘Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol’ in educating Australians about the health risks of excessive alcohol consumption. The guidelines were released by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)... ...Read more »

The Australian Government has today announced changes to food store and alcohol licensing in the Northern Territory. Under the changes, areas outside of major centres in the Northern Territory will be defined as a ‘food security area’.  Stores in these areas will need a license if they are an important source of food, drink or groceries to an Aboriginal community. This means licensing will apply to some stores for the first time. The government will consult with the local community about the... ...Read more »

The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), has called for a ban on the sale of premixed alcohol and energy drink (AED) products in Australia. Research into consumption habits, commissioned by FARE and undertaken by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, found that young people in Australia are regularly consuming between three and five alcohol and energy drinks a night, and some drinking as many as ten. Turning Point’s lead researcher, Amy Pennay, said that mixing alcohol and energy... ...Read more »

Australian wine is making a comeback in the U.S. market, according to market intelligence released today by the Australian Government statutory authority Wine Australia. Australia is already the second largest country of origin for imported wines into the U.S., behind France. Wine Australia’s market report for September 2011 showed Australian wine sales for the A$15-19.99 segment were up 23 per cent in the US and wine sales in the A$20+ segment were up 4.6 per cent. Wine Australia’s Regional... ...Read more »

The Canadian Government has announced it will reform the way it regulates energy drinks in Canada. Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages characterised by the addition of ‘energy enhancing’ ingredients. These may include a number of water-soluble B vitamins, amino acids and other substances, and caffeine. The proposed Canadian legislation includes: A cap on the amount of caffeine that can be included in an energy drink at 180 mg per single serving. In addition to current labels that... ...Read more »

Research published today by market research organisation, IBISWorld, predicts that Australians will spend A$25.4 Billion on alcoholic beverages in 2011-12. According to the research, Australians are increasingly choosing premium alcoholic drinks over traditional beers. The report predicts that alcohol spending in Australia will increase by 15.3% over the next five years, reaching A$29.3 Billion in 2016/17. IBISWorld General Manager (Australia) Karen Dobie said that while Australia’s alcohol consumption... ...Read more »

American beverage company, ArKay Beverages, has launched what it claims is the world’s first alcohol-free whiskey. Launching the new drink, a spokesperson for the Florida-based company said ‘ArKay’ was designed for “anyone with medical conditions or with religious beliefs to drink whiskey without guilt”. The company claims the drink tastes and looks exactly like traditional whisky. According to ArKay Beverages, the whisky drink is the result of five years of beverage industry research,... ...Read more »