I'm thrilled to announce today (17 November) that the mobile version of just-drinks has been updated.

To check out the improved site on your mobile appliance, click here, and add it to your favourites. Coming soon, the daily newsletter you receive from us will send you automatically to the mobile site if you are using your mobile.

We're back in the future!

Kalea has released an advent calendar in time for December, which contains 24 bottles of beer.

Made up of German brews, the Austrian company is offering the calendars as corporate gifts, with 'your logo here'.

How strong a hint do you folks want?

Some brilliant silliness from Carlsberg.

This'd call for a darn sight more than a Carlsberg for me. A new pair of pants, for a start.

I love the word 'provenance'. Or, rather, I love that, to some in our industry, it is the very meaning of life while, for others, 'provenance' is a region of France.

That Heineken's UK arm got a wrap from the country's advertising watchdog this week over misleading the consumer about Kronenbourg's provenance has served only to stoke my love for the word.

I must admit, I take tremendous pleasure in making drinks executives squirm by asking them where their provenance-emphasised (or, in some cases - Malibu? - provenance-named) brands are produced.

While Chris has said plenty on the matter earlier today, let me refer you to the opinion of a senior-placed drinks executive, who earlier this month told me that "provenance is important only if the consumer believes it is important. If it doesn't matter to the consumer where his beer comes from, then there's nothing anyone can do to make it matter."

I started a bit of a debate earlier today on Twitter, when I queried a category description used by Diageo in a press release.

In announcing the launch of an ad campaign for Captain Morgan, the drinks giant described the brand as being a “rum-based spirit drink”. This was news to me: I mean, I know Pernod Ricard's Malibu is not, strictly speaking, a rum. But, Captain Morgan?

Over to Diageo to explain:

'Captain Morgan Jamaican Black' is a rum – everywhere in the world.

'Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum' is sold primarily in the US and Canada, and under US law, and rest of world, it is a rum.

'Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold' is the name given to 'Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum' in Europe. Under European law, it cannot be described as a rum due to the composition of the liquid – primarily the spices added to it and the ABV (35%). Therefore, in Europe, it must be described legally as “a rum-based spirit drink”.

As Diageo concluded to me: "Clear?"

Do you like a drink at the end of your day? As most of you will know, due in no small part to my recent bleating, our five-month-old son is providing quite a bit of adventure for us. Consequently, Mrs just-drinks and I find the first gin & tonic after the boy's bedtime barely touches the sides.

It would transpire, then, that I may have faulty brain-reasoning.

A survey from UK responsible drinking body Drinkaware today suggests that people drink more to make themselves feel happier and less stressed. Of the people Drinkaware has interviewed, and I don't know how many, two thirds of women and half of men said that stress makes them reach for the bottle.

Only two thirds? Only one half?

Not only that, but [gasp] some people have more than one drink at home in the evening.

But, if you're of similar ilk, at least you can blame it on your dysfunctional brain. Psychologist Donna Dawson said: "We may know that the second or third glass of alcohol is not really needed or even desired, but the brain has already rationalised that if one glass felt good, then more will feel even better.

"What we need to do is recognise this is faulty brain-reasoning at work."

Works for me. And Mrs j-d.

A quick Friday afternoon shout out to the folk at William Grant & Sons' UK sales and marketing division, First Drinks for their assistance in allowing me to die happy.

Thanks to William Grants' sponsorship of Mojo music magazine's annual awards, through its Glenfiddich single malt brand, First Drinks invited me to join them at table last night. Now, those of you that follow just-drinks on Twitter (and, if not, why not?) will have been pestered by my crowing last night throughout the evening.

What I didn't tweet was that I met one of my musical heroes at the event. And, if you like your music proper, then you may have heard of him too.

But, if that doesn't impress you, then how about this: There was a Beatle in the room!

A Beatle!

And Brian Wilson!

And Jimmy Page!

And Martha Reeves!

Thanks to Chris Mason and Sonia Bastian at First Drinks, and Kirsty Chant at Touch PR.

It's the first day of The Open Golf Championship here in the UK today (14 July).

Perfect timing for this, then, the latest activity from Wells & Young's for its Bombardier beer brand. 

Bang on!

Among the many stories we cover here on just-drinks are announcements of advertising campaigns. Be they TV, out-of-home or print, we endeavour to cover as many of these as we can.

However, it now appears that we ought to consider announcements of advertising campaigns that companies have not quite succeeded in setting up.

A release yesterday (27 June) from the Hill Smith family, owners of the Oxford Landing Australian wine brand, gave details of how they had hoped to secure a tie-up here in London with the owner of the Underground, Transport for London.

I'll let the video detail their plans, which were turned down by TFL because "our stations aren't for sale", apparently. But, I will say this: If we're going to have to report on things that didn't quite happen, I'm going to need a bigger crew.

A recent study completed by just-drinks has shown that the global beverage industry clearly sees social media as playing a vital role in its relationship with consumers.

Confusion reigns, however, over how to use the tools on offer.

• How can we use Facebook to engage with our consumers?
• Can tweeting really make an impact on sales?
• Who should be responsible for a company's' social activity?

To help clear up this confusion, we’d love to hear if and how you and your company are using social media.

We've put together a 12-question survey, which should only take you a few minutes to complete.

As a thank you, we’ll send you a complimentary copy of the upcoming 'Social Media in the Food and Drinks Industry' report when it's published, early next month.

Please click here to go to the survey.