WSET announces freeze on prices

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust has put a freeze on the pricing of WSET courses, examinations and materials for the coming academic year.

Home Office takes over control of alcohol licensing

The government has confirmed that the Home Office will take over responsibility for the Licensing Act 2003, which regulates the sale of alcohol in England and Wales.

Pernod Ricard to use Facebook in anti drink-driving campaign

Pernod Ricard UK is to use social networking sites to target 18 to 24-year-old drivers in the the latest phase of its Accept Responsibility campaign.

Currency update, July 20: sterling hits seven week low

Currency daily update for July 20 from Smart Currency Exchange: sterling fell yesterday against the euro to hit a seven week low.

Wines in the press - July 16-18

The Guardian

Nederburg wins gold at Muscats du Monde

South African winery, Nederburg has emerged as the top performer in this year's Muscats du Monde.

Captain Morgan given "rugged" image

Diageo has announced a new global pack design for Captain Morgan rum to be rolled out in late July.

Drinkaware opens alcohol-free café for under-18s

Drinkaware is hoping to highlight the risks of excessive alcohol consumption to 16 and 17-year-olds with the opening of an alcohol-free café in Newquay, Cornwall.

Currency update, July 16: sterling's good fortunes continue

Currency daily update for July 16 from Smart Currency Exchange: sterling continues its rally against the US dollar, hitting a two and a half month high.

London lauded as world cocktail capital

London was confirmed as the world's leading city for cocktail mixology last night as The Connaught Hotel's Erik Lorincz was crowned overall winner of Diageo's Raising the Bar competition.

New wine buyer for Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's has appointed Spar wine trading manager Dror Nativ to the position of buyer for Australia, New Zealand and wine formats.

WSTA appoints new policy manager

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association has appointed Aileen Keyes as its new policy manager.

Currency update, July 15: sterling jumps by nearly 1%

Currency analysis for July 15 from Smart Currency Exchange: sterling jump by nearly 1% to $1.53/ £1 - the highest rate in two months.

Big names sign up to appear at Harpers global wine conference

Dan Jago at Tesco, Justin James of Sainsbury's and Direct Wines' Justin Howard-Sneyd are just three of the big names who will be speaking at Harpers Wine & Spirits' inaugural Global Wine Conference 2010 in London on September 7.

Currency update, July 15: sterling hits two month high against dollar

Currency daily update for July 15 from Smart Currency Exchange: sterling hits two month high against the dollar.

For specialist drinks currency advice go to www.smartwinespirits.com

Register now for merchants seminar

Independents looking for fresh ideas on how to promote their business are invited to attend the Top Merchants seminar on July 19 at the Bristol Hotel, Bristol.

Diageo weighs up possible merger

Analysts believe Diageo could be weighing up an eventual merger deal with SABMiller or AB InBev as it faces up to stagnating spirits markets in its core territories of Europe and North America.

French expect 2010 vintage to match 2009

France expects to produce 47.3 million hectolitres of wine in the 2010 vintage, broadly on a par with the 2009 figure.

Alsace wine labelling overhaul on the horizon

The newly elected president of Alsace wines' trade body the CIVA has pledged to make Alsace wine labels easier to understand for consumers.

Bordeaux 2009 "overpriced"

Bordeaux lovers can find better value in previous vintages than in the 2009 en primeur market, Liv-Ex has declared.