The study from AlixPartners includes lots of epic graphs, like the one seen here, which clearly explains everything…

Global Business-Advisory Firm AlixPartners conducted a poll of 1,000 consumers in February 2010 as part of a study to gauge the consumer market for fine beverages. The report isn’t encouraging, saying that about 20% of non-alcoholic beverage companies and 35% of alcoholic beverage companies are in danger of going under over the next two years. That isn’t good news for sure, though it seems to be something of a misleading statistic given the ambiguity of it. Continue Reading »

Political affairs never cease to amaze me. Especially, when fine beverages are involved.

Venezuela’s extreme leftist leader, President Hugo Chavez, is hell bent on a mission to completely nationalize the country’s economy. In his economic war on Venezuela’s “stateless bourgeoisie”, Chavez has already nationalized dozens of companies, including multi-billion dollar oil projects.

At the moment, Chavez’s main target is Venezuela’s largest privately owned company and biggest beer producer, Empresas Polar. From seizing warehouses and products to threatening to raise taxes on beer, Chavez seems to be doing everything in his power to force Mendoza into the de-privatization of Empresas Polar. Last week, Chavez ordered the military to crack down on businesses selling beer — especially unlicensed retailers and people selling beer out of trucks. Continue Reading »

University of Memphis Tigers fans saw a first Sunday night when their alma mater took on number 8-ranked Ole Miss.  No, the Tigers didn’t manage an upset; in fact, they lost 45 to 14 at home.  But for the first time ever, the defeated devotees were able to drown their sorrows — in beer.

Sunday night’s game marked the first U of M home game that allowed beer sales at the Liberty Bowl.  While not everyone in attendance was thrilled about the development (some still think beer-drinking at a football game is naughty), the decision to go through with beer sales earned Memphis $114,576.

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I came across a story today about beer potentially being approved for sale at Six Flags in Texas. According to Dallas News, “…Six Flags is only selling beer at six restaurants. You can’t walk around the park with it. You can’t buy more than one beer at a time. The park won’t start selling suds before noon and will shut down beer sales two hours before closing.” Continue Reading »