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As the end of the year approaches, just-drinks takes a four-part look at the stories that made the headlines in 2018 across the global drinks industry. In part I, news & insights editor Andy Morton picks out the highs and the lows for the beer category.

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Here, just-drinks consolidates the M&A activity in the global drinks industry during November, a month that saw the Cutty Sark Scotch brand get a(nother) new owner and Diageo sell off a raft of spirits brands to Sazerac.

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just-drinks spoke to a number of industry figures working to recalibrate beverages to e-commerce demands, including The Coca-Cola Co, Heineken, The Sidel Group and Crown Beverages to find out where the e-commerce evolution will lead.

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Heineken released its Q3 results yesterday and, in the process, shone a light on an as-yet-little-noticed corner of the global beer market. Cambodia is rarely mentioned alongside the big hitters of the South-East Asian alcohol market - namely Thailand and Vietnam. Its relatively-small population of 16m normally keeps it under the radar.

As the man in charge of Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Grolsch and SABMiller's other European brands sold off after its takeover, Hector Gorosabel had a front-row seat for the dismantlement of one of the world's major brewers. Then, Asahi came calling and offered him the chance to lead his former charges in a fresh direction for the Japanese giant. In a two-part interview with just-drinks, Gorosabel discusses how he came to accept his new role, and reveals the behind-the-scenes emotions as SABMiller went out of existence.

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In November, just-drinks grabbed some time with the CEO of the drinks industry-funded International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, Henry Ashworth. The first part of our resultant interview, which can be found here, saw Ashworth explain what the organisation does and how it defines success. Here, in part two, we discuss IARD's relationship with the World Health Organisation and tackle the thorny issue of pricing as a tool in responsible drinking's arsenal.

Heineken USA is to launch slimline cans of Strongbow cider that contain 100 calories each.

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Heineken has bought majority control of Spanish craft brewer La Cibeles.

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Heineken-owned Nigerian Breweries has denied wrongdoing after Nigeria's lottery commission temporarily shut down the brewer's head office.

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Asian beer is enjoying a global high as a number of top-selling brews climbed the rankings in a new list of the world's most valuable beer brands.

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The packaging of alcohol in a 25cl can does not increase the appeal of the product to consumers under the legal drinking age in the UK, according to the Portman Group's complaints panel.

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Heineken will close its new China partnership with CR Snow next year, the brewer has said.

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Heineken has unveiled a new global marketing drive for its Sol beer that ties the brand to its Mexican heritage.

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Heineken has confirmed to just-drinks that it has moved some UK production of its namesake lager into the country, ahead of next year's departure from the European Union.

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Heineken is to invest EUR28.9m (US$32.7m) on increasing the production capacity at one of its French facilities, as demand for its Desperados Tequila-flavoured beer continues to rise in the country.

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Brexit is a "disaster coming our way", according to Euromonitor's senior alcohol analyst, as new figures show manufacturing growth in the country at its lowest level for almost two-and-a-half years.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken are leading the pack when it comes to global annual spend on sports sponsorship, according to new research.

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Ireland-based C&C Group could benefit from the UK's departure from the European Union by packaging and brewing third-party brands at its UK facilities, its CEO has suggested.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev has reportedly turned whistleblower against two of its rivals after accusing Heineken and Carlsberg's operations in India of price fixing.

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Heineken has called on brewers to treat online shopping as more than just a new channel and view it as an important marketing opportunity for the whole business.

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Cambodia looks set to be the next beer battleground for Heineken, with the brewer's volumes in the country struggling in the third quarter of 2018 as Carlsberg ups its presence.

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The non-alcoholic beer category faces "product integrity issues" that could hamper its move towards draught, Heineken's head brewer has warned.

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Heineken has boosted its motor racing presence, securing 'official beer and cider' status with the Formula E electric street racing series.

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Heineken has launched Heineken 0.0 in Australia as the brewer continues to add the non-alcoholic lager variant to new markets.

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Heineken's Dos Equis brand is introducing a new Mexican Pale Ale to the US on-premise, described as "a traditional pale ale with a Mexican twist that is fuller-bodied and delivers a subtle kick of heat".

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Quintessential Brands Group has recruited a former Edrington and Heineken employee to head up one of its sales departments in the US.

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China's two biggest brewers have posted first-half sales rises as consumers increasingly move to premium beers, according to a report.

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Heineken's introductory craft-style range, the UK-produced Maltsmiths, is to appear on TV for the first time in a new GBP4.5m (US$5.8m) marketing campaign.

Heineken is known for its flashy adverts. Now the brewer has given the star treatment to a new recruitment drive with a glamorous and highly-persuasive ad that, quite frankly, had the staff here at just-drinks dusting off their resumes.

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Here in the UK, we're coming to the end of a fine summer of cricket, with England having played against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a number of matches around the country.