alcoholic beverages

WASHINGTON—How many calories are in that glass of wine? Right now, the bottle of wine isn’t telling—but that could be changing.The Treasury Department, which oversees labels for most alcoholic beverages, is considering requiring makers of wine, beer and distilled spirits to provide more information on what consumers are drinking, including labels that show ingredients and calories. The department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau indicated in June that it was considering possible changes to alcohol labeling.…

BORDEAUX, France—The wildfire began on an usually dry summer day in a forest bordering the Liber Pater vineyard. Winemaker Loïc Pasquet saw the flames rise and spread toward his precious vines, which produce Bordeaux that sells for $30,000 a bottle.Hours before evacuating Mr. Pasquet and his staff destroyed the grass around the vineyard to prevent it from catching fire and dug trenches to block the blaze’s path. He also sprayed local trees with water drawn from the vineyard’s ponds. The vineyard was spared. The emergency…

"Violence against another person" is by far the most common criminal offense reported in U.K. hotels, new data shows. Statistics from eight police forces across the U.K. show there were 4,589 allegations of violence and 1,307 of public disorder — which often involves intimidation or the threat of violence — in hotels, motels and guesthouses from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.That's more than the 3,999 reports involving theft, robbery and burglary.There were 1,206 reports of arson and criminal damage, and 1,107 reports of…

MUNICH—Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival, kicks off Saturday after a Covid-induced two-year lull, but German brewers now facing one of their biggest crises in memory fear the party will give way to a painful hangover. The country’s roughly 1,500 breweries are feeling the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its energy war on Europe and the lingering effects of the pandemic. Contracts that kept the cost of ingredients and energy low are starting to expire, forcing companies into the open…

ISLAY, Scotland—Inhabitants of this remote Scottish island say its celebrated whisky industry is getting too big as new distilleries open and existing ones expand, placing its communities under strain.While many locals cherish Islay’s historic distilleries and value the jobs they provide, some warn that expansion risks turning the picturesque island into a corporate whisky factory where younger residents can’t afford to buy houses and local businesses can’t hire staff. “They’re carrying on a tradition that is…

Budweiser is promoting its alcohol-free lager at the upcoming soccer World Cup in Qatar, balancing its role as the official beer of an event being held in a predominantly Muslim country with strict regulations on the sale and consumption of alcohol. Executives from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, the brewer’s parent company, believe the restrictions on alcohol sales in the country provide it with an opportunity to encourage more people to try its alcohol-free Budweiser Zero, which will be on offer…

Lucio Salamini has witnessed the weather patterns around his family’s vineyard in northern Italy change dramatically over the past 30 years. But he says he has never seen anything like this summer before.After scorching hot days, the heat doesn’t let up at night, causing stress on his vines. And almost every month this year has seen less rainfall than average, with the nearby Po River—a key freshwater source for surrounding farms and vineyards—seeing record low water levels in recent weeks. “Weather is changing and it’s…

America’s largest brewer is struggling to keep up in the U.S. Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev BUD -4.52% NV on Thursday said it had underperformed the rest of the beer industry in the U.S., its largest market, leading it to report lower volumes in North America for the second quarter. The world’s largest brewer has for years seen its mainstream brands Bud and Bud Light decline, partly amid a broader shift by American…

LONDON— Diageo DEO 2.55% PLC reported a surge in annual sales and profit, buoyed by a recovery in trade at bars and restaurants as well as drinkers’ growing taste for the booze giant’s high-end spirits despite surging inflation.The owner of Smirnoff vodka and Guinness beer said Thursday it hasn’t yet seen any signs that drinkers are trading down to cheaper brands, indicating that while consumers are pulling back in some areas they are still willing to pay for high-end…

Shoppers are trading down to cheap beer brands and discount cigarettes as they feel more pressure on their pocketbooks.Consumer prices in the U.S. rose at a 9.1% annual rate in June, the fastest pace in nearly 41 years, as strong consumer demand has collided with persistent supply shortages. In a survey released this month by the National Retail Federation, nearly half of consumers said that because of rising prices on everyday necessities, they were switching to cheaper alternatives. Vincent Jarbou, co-owner…