just the Round-up - The week in drinks

The top ten stories published on just-drinks this week:

• MEXICO: Jose Cuervo up for sale, Diageo to pounce? - report

UK reports over the weekend have suggested that Diageo is mulling a US$2bn move to acquire full control of the Jose Cuervo Tequila brand.

• US: Beam Global Spirits & Wine snaps up Skinnygirl

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has acquired US spirits brand Skinnygirl for an undisclosed sum.

• AUS/UK: SABMiller calms Pacific Beverages demise talk

SABMiller has reiterated its commitment to the Pacific Beverages joint venture it operates in Australia with Coca-Cola Amatil.

• AFRICA: SABMiller raises Africa beer forecast

SABMiller expects to make more revenue from beer sales in Africa over the next four years than it had originally forecast.

• GLOBAL: Coca-Cola struggles in brand rankings

Coca-Cola has dropped out of the top ten of Brand Finance Global's 500 most valuable brands for the first time.

• UK: Whyte & Mackay creates international marketing director post

Whyte & Mackay has moved to create the position of marketing director for its international markets.

• GLOBAL: Bacardi teams with Rafael Nadal for global social responsibility role

Bacardi has switched global social responsibility ambassadors, from Michael Schumacher to Rafael Nadal.

• UK: Budget lays out drinks duty tax rise

Duty tax on beer, wine and spirits in the UK will rise by another 2% above inflation, the UK Government has announced.

• AUS: Foster's Group in supermarket beer spat - reports

Foster's Group has withheld beer from two of Australia's largest retailers, Coles and Woolworth's, over a price dispute, according to reports.

• FRANCE: Court orders Belvédère chiefs’ assets seizure to go ahead

The chairman and CEO of French drinks group Belvédère, Jacques Rouvroy and Krzysztof Trylinski, appear to have lost a legal battle to prevent their assets being seized by two UK-based investment funds.