Massachusetts brewers, wholesalers still at odds over franchise law reform →
A nearly decade-long debate over how to reform Massachusetts’ controversial beer franchise laws continued Tuesday afternoon, as craft brewers and beer wholesalers packed a basement meeting room of the statehouse to testify before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. State lawmakers heard testimonies from a variety of industry stakeholders who are aiming to reform strict franchise laws that brewers claim lock their companies into nearly unbreakable relationships with wholesalers.
France: long lost variety Tardif to be officially recognized →
The grape, thought to have been lost to phylloxera long ago, is to be listed once again in the official catalogue of permitted varieties in France and will be making wine for commercial production by 2020. Tardif was preserved and propagated at an experimental plot in Aignan since 2015. Some 1,500 new vines will be planted next year with the first crop being ready in 2020.
The Drinks Business's Beer Masters 2017 results →
Breweries from all over the world were judged on beer quality and awarded bronze, silver, gold, or master in the categories of lager, speciality light beers, and more. The Drinks Business gives a full report on the results, as well as highlights the trends of the craft beer category.
Analysts say that self-driving cars could make people drink more alcohol →
Analysts at Morgan Stanley recently assessed the potential impact of autonomous vehicles on the alcohol industry, estimating that alcohol consumption is likely to increase, with significant accompanying benefits for drinks businesses. Morgan Stanley points out we’re already beginning to see this happen, in the form of ride-hailing services like Uber, which has been linked to lowering rates of drink-driving in cities where it operates.