just the ten - Top Features of 2009

With the end of the year looming, just-drinks is running a series of 'Top Tens of the Year' in the run-up to Christmas.

Today, it's the Top Ten Most Read Features of 2009.

10 - In the Spotlight - Australia's RTD tax
March - Click here for feature

The controversial Australian 'alcopops' tax has been defeated by the country's Senate this week. Michelle Russell looks at the fallout.

09 - In the Spotlight - Anheuser-Busch InBev
March - Click here for feature

Belgium-based beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev saw its fourth-quarter profit plummet 95% yesterday (5 March), hurt by restructuring charges and poor beer sales. Michelle Russell looks at reaction to the group's performance.

08 - Focus - China's growing thirst for wine
February - Click here for feature

China's reputation as both a wine market and producer looks to be going in only one direction. Mark Godfrey in Beijing speaks exclusively to consultants, sommeliers, retailers and producers on the ground to assess the progress the country has made. 

07 - In the Spotlight - Alcohol tax hikes
January - Click here for feature

Tax hikes have taken centre stage in discussions between the alcohol industry and several national and state governments around the world over the last year. Michelle Russell reports on a global trend for raising drinks duty.

06 - In the Spotlight - Global wine market
January - Click here for feature

Businesses are shedding jobs and retail sales are in the gutter, but new research shows that consumers will stare into the economic abyss with a glass of wine in their hand, reports Michelle Russell.

05 - Focus - Soft drinks: New products target the recovering market
January - Click here for feature

Detoxing is as much part of the holiday ritual as the excesses that make it necessary and, Annette Farr writes, today's soft drinks market provides a plethora of products claiming restorative health benefits.

04 - Focus - The US spirits market: The state of the union
February - Click here for feature

A raft of recent reports looking at the US spirits market have suggested that, while times are tough in the country, they could be a whole lot worse. Chris Mercer takes a closer look at  the numbers to see how bad it is, and how bad it's going to get.

03 - Focus - Alcohol industry still faces online headache
March - Click here for feature

New guidelines have just been introduced by the European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) governing online media. However, while the guidelines enhance the self-regulatory framework of the spirits industry, Ben Cooper writes, they do nothing to address the problems created by user-generated material.

02 - Report in Focus - Growth in functional drinks set to ramp up
March - Click here for feature

The functional soft drinks market looks set for further growth over the next few years, according to a new report from just-drinks. While the recession and competition from other functional foods represent challenges, the sector offers many opportunities for growth. Ben Cooper reports.

01 - Preview - Looking ahead but not looking forward to 2009
January - Click here for feature

January may be the time to look forward to the coming year but few in the drinks industry will be eyeing the coming year with relish. However, given the pessimistic tone of virtually every market and economic forecast, it is hard to imagine 2009 being any worse than is being predicted. Olly Wehring offers his view of what's in store for the drinks market.