just the round-up - The week in drinks

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

Constellation Brands and Australian Vintage

AUS: Australian Vintage, Constellation seek merger clearance

Wine giants Australian Vintage and Constellation Brands are seeking informal clearance for a merger from Australia's competition regulator.

Drinkaware cash boost

UK: Drinkaware receives industry funding

UK alcohol charity Drinkaware has received a further GBP5m (US$8.1m) of funding from the drinks industry in a bid to continue tackling the issue of alcohol misuse.

Nestle Waters in US protest

US: Nestle Waters attacks bottled water tax plan

Nestle Waters has criticised a plan to introduce a tax on locally-produced bottled water in Michigan to help authorities pay for education grants.

Tuscan Fraud

ITALY: Fresh wine fraud fears hit Tuscany

Millions of litres of Italian wine may have been blended illegally, in a fresh fraud investigation that threatens to further damage Italy's standing on the world wine market.

Anheuser-Busch InBev debt pay-off

BELGIUM/US: Anheuser-Busch InBev pays off more debt

Anheuser-Busch InBev has made an early payment of US$3.7bn to further repay debt taken on to finance the formation of the brewer last year.

Diageo heading abroad?

UK: Diageo CEO cannot rule out overseas HQ move

The chief executive of Diageo has refused to rule out moving the drinks firm's headquarters away from the UK.

Constellation, Grupo Modelo lawsuit

US: Constellation Brands rebuffs Grupo Modelo lawsuit

Constellation Brands has vowed to defend itself against a lawsuit filed by Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo over the amount of funding both firms have given to their Crown Imports joint venture.

Carlsberg FY forecast

DENMARK: Carlsberg ups FY forecast on Russia stockpiling

Carlsberg has raised its full-year earnings forecast after seeing volumes boosted by distributor stockpiling in Russia, ahead of a jump in beer duty tax next month.

Coca-Cola Enterprises FY forecast

US: Coca-Cola Enterprises raises FY guidance

Soft drinks bottler Coca-Cola Enterprises has raised its earnings guidance for 2009, but said it expects the North American market to remain challenging in 2010.

Foster's Group H1

AUS: Foster's Group wine sales disappoint in H1

Oversupply, weak consumer spending and unfavourable currency rates mean that Foster's Group wine business is still performing below expectations, the Australian firm has warned.