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e - NEWS |
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April 9, 2004 |
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1. Study Details Midwest
Binge Drinking (Iowa)
2. Alcohol Awareness
Month Starts Tomorrow
5. Most Light Beer Is
'Low Carb,' U.S. Decides
6. Diageo Introduces New
Line of Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Flavored Rums
7.
Mexico
Relents on Tequila Crackdown (Mexico)
8.
US:
Winemakers to Roll Out Yellow Tail Competitors
1. Study
Details Midwest Binge Drinking (Iowa)
By: The Associated Press
April 4, 2004
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- Despite
the publicity, a new study shows Iowa's binge drinking problem isn't entirely
in Iowa City.
The Quad Cities is listed as No. 6
and Cedar Rapids is listed as No. 7 in binge drinking ratings out of 120
largest U.S. metropolitan areas surveyed in the study released in this month's
American Journal of Public Health.
``I'm very concerned and
surprised,'' said Melissa Walker, coordinator of the Underage Drinking Task
Force of Linn County. ``Unfortunately, there's a lot of work that needs to be
done.''
Binge drinking is defined as
imbibing five or more alcoholic drinks over a few hours.
Of those surveyed in the Cedar
Rapids area, 20.6 percent said they had engaged in binge drinking recently. Of
those between 18 and 34, 36.2 percent were recent binge drinkers. The study
said the number was 13.8 percent for respondents 35 and older.
The Quad Cities reported 21.1
percent overall and No. 18 Des Moines reported 18.2 percent. The study did not
look at Iowa City, which has been identified as having a binge drinking problem
in similar studies.
Nationally, the overall rate is
14.5 percent, the study said.
More emphasis should be placed on
telling the public about the dangers of excessive alcohol use, said Barb Gay,
director of prevention services for the Area Substance Abuse Council.
``Kids who drink early and drink
quite a bit do (often) go on to have substance abuse problems later in life,''
she said.
The survey, which relied on data
provided by states to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
focused on those 18 and older, had bad news for the Midwest as a whole. Six of
the top 10 metropolitan areas are in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The study, which used 1997 and
1999 data, did not address the reasons for heaving drinking in particular
geographic areas. Over consumption has more to do with societal acceptance and
the availability of alcohol, said one of the study's authors, Robert Brewer, of
the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
``In general, I think we give
people mixed messages about intoxication,'' Brewer said. ``People often regard
getting intoxicated as something not serious.''
Local drinking ordinances,
religious views and perceptions about drinking are all factors in determining
binge drinking rates, Brewer said.
2.
Alcohol Awareness Month Starts Tomorrow
The Ridgeway Record
March 31, 2004
April is a refreshing
month with springtime renewal buds and it also happens to be alcohol awareness
month.
During the 30-day
observance, alcoholics and the under or misinformed can renew themselves or
others by seeking education about, not only the dangers of alcohol abuse, but
also solutions.
This year's theme is
"Save a Life-End Underage Drinking." Forty percent of children who
begin drinking before age 13 become alcoholics at some point in their lives.
Alcohol is the number
one drug of choice for America's youth and can be a factor in the four leading
causes of death (motor-vehicle crashes, unintentional injury, homicide, and
suicide) among 10 to 24 year-olds.
The idea to highlight
underage drinking during alcohol awareness month stems from a report compiled
by the National Academy of Sciences. The report, titled "Reducing Underage
Drinking: A Collective Responsibility," brought to light a lack of efforts
to reduce underage drinking.
The study pointed out
a need for: Parents to be more observant, the alcohol and entertainment
industries to shield children from unsuitable messages, legislators to increase
alcohol excise taxes, and communities to stop house parties where underage
drinking occurs.
Preventing illegal
youth access to alcohol is one of the proven methods for a reduction in
underage drinking. Although not prevalent in Pennsylvania, 25 states and the
District of Columbia have laws requiring that beer kegs be stamped with an
identification number. If found at an underage party, the keg can then identify
the supplier, which will then prevent teens from drinking out of it.
Another problem spot
that was discovered from the report is that there is a generation gap when it
comes to efforts to halt underage drinking. Most of the focus has been on
teens, while little to no attention has been paid to the adults that help them
acquire it.
While the National
Academy of Sciences report pinpointed problems, Pennsylvania plans on following
through in an effort to conquer alcohol abuse. During April, there are many
events slated.
A conference regarding
underage drinking is currently underway in State College and will conclude on
April 2. Field professionals and youth will discuss trends such as the current
popularity in drinking by age. There will also be discussions to determine what
and how much alcohol is being consumed by minors.
Possible solutions to
the problem will center on the National Academy of Sciences' suggestions.
Potential answers are a decrease in media advertisements glamorizing alcohol
and an increase in policies to thwart abuse. Keg tagging is a topic of debate
in the state Senate and the House will soon be deciding if adults should be
more responsible when an underage drinking party is discovered.
April 2 through 4 is
alcohol free weekend and since structure seems to prevent drunkenness, local
events are encouraged by the state. Felicity DeBacco-Erni, executive director
of Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking, said, "We encourage people to
do things with their communities."
She mentioned that
such activities can be as simple as a teen dance chaperoned by adults or can be
as involved as a tourist attraction. For example, Somerset County will be
holding a fire and ice festival during the weekend. Ice sculptures will be the
focus and there will also be planned events for children, teens, and adults.
Throughout the month
and beyond, a children's poster contest, alcohol screening, and public service
announcements will be sponsored and encouraged by various entities.
Both the Department of
Health and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will be
sponsoring a national screening day on April 8. Locally, screenings can be
received at the Kane Area Community Center, 46 Fraley St., from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m.
The poster contest is
being conducted by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Students in grades
Kindergarten through 12 have until April 30 to send in their entries with an
alcohol-free message. Eighty posters will be displayed at various events and
these artists will be invited to a ceremony in Harrisburg with a special guest
speaker. The top ten prints will be reproduced for mass viewing and these elite
creators will collect $100 savings bonds. Regarding suggested content, LCB
Spokesperson Molly McGowan said, "We're trying to give a positive
message." She advises that the subject matter should promote participation
in activities such as sports or art.
Sometime during April
and potentially into May, Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking will be
publishing print and airing television advertisements in an attempt to increase
alcohol abuse awareness. There will be two commercials, one geared for parents
and one for students.
NT Bureau
Chennai,
April 9, 2004
The UB Group has been ranked the
fourth largest spirits marketer group in the world. The group is now in the
company of top three rankers in the world, viz, Diageo, Allied Domeq and
Pernod-Ricard with sales of 35 million cases in the year 2003.
Impact International, a New York-based global news and
research digest, that annually ranks international beverage alcohol companies
based on their sales figures, has declared UB Group as the fourth largest
spirits group, according to a press release.
This landmark achievement and
improvement in global ranking is a result of tremendous growth in record sales
achieved by the company last year. UB Group has registered sales of over 35
million cases in 2003-2004, growing by 15 per cent as compared to last years 30
million cases, the release said.
'It is a red-letter day for the UB Group. We are one of the
few Indian companies, which are counted in the Top five in its segment. A well
defined strategy has helped us add five million cases every year, in the past
three years. Our next target is the number three position with sales of 50
million in the next three years,' Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman, UB Group said.
V K Rekhi, president, UB Group Spirits Division said, 'our
performance in the past years is a testimony and gives us confidence of
achieving this 50 million cases target. To achieve this we are planning a multi-pronged
strategy. Our focus will be on giving an accelerated growth to our existing
brands. At the same time we will add more products to our existing portfolio in
global markets. We plan to introduce new products across categories and
segments.'
'The challenge would be continued integration of our
operations and strengthening our supply chain to give our customers the best
quality products, and enhance shareholder value,' added Rekhi.
In the coming year, the group will focus on introducing
Indian flavoured RTDs, which will have Rum, Whisky and Brandy as their base. In
the pipeline are an exciting range of five brands and 15 flavours. In addition,
efforts will be made to internationalise our rum portfolio starting with US and
UK.
4. Press Release
Contact: Art Resnick (202)
927-8062
April 8, 2004
Washington, D.C. – The Alcohol and
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued a ruling to provide guidance to
industry pertaining to advertising and labeling claims associated with the use
of caloric and carbohydrate claims. TTB has concluded that there is a need for
immediate guidance as a result of the recent trend in which industry members
are seeking to use such claims in the labeling and advertising of their
products.
The ruling allows for the use of
truthful and specific statements about carbohydrate and calorie content while
prohibiting statements that are false, misleading, or imply that consumption of
low-carbohydrate alcohol beverages may play a healthy role in a weight
maintenance or weight reduction plan. TTB believes that such claims are
misleading in that they provide incomplete information about the health effects
of alcohol consumption.
TTB regulations on the use of
health-related statements in labeling and advertising provide TTB with
authority to require the use of disclaimers or additional information to ensure
that consumers are not misled by statements that present only a partial picture
of the health effects of alcohol consumption. Unlike most low-calorie and
low-carbohydrate foods, alcohol beverages are dangerous when consumed in
excess. Even the moderate consumption of alcohol beverages poses health risks
for some people. TTB has determined that labeling or advertising statements
that imply that consumption of low-calorie or low-carbohydrate alcohol
beverages is part of a healthy dietary practice are misleading unless they
present all the facts in a balanced manner to the consumer.
As part of the ruling, TTB is
issuing interim standards for the use of terms such as “low carbohydrate”.
Prior to the setting of a final standard through the rulemaking process, the
term “low carbohydrate” may be used only in the labeling and advertising of
alcohol beverages that contain no more than 7 grams of carbohydrates per
serving.
The ruling may be viewed in its
entirety at http://www.ttb.gov/
5. Most
Light Beer Is 'Low Carb,' U.S. Decides
By: Christopher Lawton -The Wall
Street Journal
April 9, 2004
Looking for a low-carb light beer?
According to the federal government, almost all of them are.
Just what constitutes a low-carbohydrate
beer, the fastest-growing segment of the beer market, has been the subject of a
hotly contested marketing battle between Anheuser-Busch Cos., maker of Bud
Light and Michelob Ultra, and SABMiller PLC's Miller Brewing Co., maker of
Miller Lite.
The Treasury Department's Alcohol,
Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau decided recently to set about defining
"low-carb" to help weight-conscious beer drinkers make more informed
choices. But in a ruling issued yesterday, pending a period of public comment,
the bureau did little to clear up the matter.
Miller Lite, which has 3.2 grams
of carbs in a 12-oz. serving, boasts in ads that it contains "half the
carbs" of its rival, Bud Light, the nation's biggest beer brand. Bud
Light, which has 6.6 grams of carbs, has fought back by saying that all light
beers are low-carb beers. The bureau could have set a limit declaring that only
beers with fewer than six grams can refer to themselves as low carb. Instead,
it set the cutoff at seven, so most light beers aren't affected.
The ruling, which does forbid
alcohol producers from making misleading health claims about low carbs, is
likely to disappoint consumer groups. This past Monday, Linda Golodner,
president of the National Consumer League, wrote to the bureau urging it to
define low-carb alcohol, adding that a six-gram standard would be
"appropriate."
Part of the beer industry was
concerned because it expected the lower threshold. Two weeks ago the Beer
Institute, a Washington trade group representing the major brewers, circulated
a memo to its members advising that the bureau had decided on a six-gram
threshold, according to an e-mail reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
Art Resnick, a bureau spokesman,
said the regulatory body considered a six-gram standard amid a number of
possibilities. It chose seven grams, he said, because it wanted to choose a
number that meant something to the consumer without disrupting competition
within the alcohol marketplace.
Mr., Resnick wouldn't say if
Anheuser-Busch's lobbying affected the decision. But he did say the bureau
"heard from a variety of industry members including brewers [and]
Anheuser-Busch on this issue."
"We have ongoing discussions
with the TTB, as do other industry members, because TTB is the regulating agency
that oversees our industry," said Joe Jedlicka, vice president, legal and
state affairs, at Anheuser-Busch. "We express our opinions to them, and to
other regulators, on matters of importance."
Since last summer, Miller Lite's
low-carb-touting ads have helped the brand cut into Bud Light's market share.
Bud Light accounts for close to 40% of Anheuser-Busch's sales, according to
Impact Databank, so Miller Lite's resurgence represented a serious threat. In
fall 2002, Anheuser-Busch went national with its own low-carb beer, Michelob
Ultra, which quickly became a hit. The beer, which has a carb count of 2.6
grams, holds a 3.1% share of supermarket beer sales, according to Information
Resources Inc.
Meanwhile, Bud Light defended
itself with the slogan, "All light beers are low in carbs. Choose on
taste." It also aired ads that poked fun at the carb mania through a
vehicle called the Bud Light Institute and its wacky inventions to help
drinkers burn off the carbs from one Bud Light. One recent ad featured the
institute's chief executive promoting the toe flex, a contraption
"specifically designed to make it easy to burn the ridiculously low carbs
in one Bud Light."
Mr. Resnick said his agency wanted
to provide guidance to the consumer and address potential misinformation
implied in ads that make low-carb claims. "We are looking to discourage
what we see as current trends in advertising implying physical properties and
health benefits obtained through consumption" of alcohol that's lower in
carbohydrates," he said.
Although Miller Lite doesn't stand
to benefit from the ruling, it isn't complaining. "I think it sets a
standard and should help alleviate any confusion," said Michael Hennick,
spokesman for Miller Brewing. "If [Anheuser-Busch is] happy with seven
carbs, the point for us is that half the carbs is still half the carbs."
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6. Diageo Introduces New Line of Captain Morgan's
Parrot Bay Flavored Rums
Source: Diageo Press
Release
Wednesday
April 7, 2004
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Pineapple
and Mango Flavors to add Greater Vibrancy & Versatility
STAMFORD, Conn., April 7
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks company,
has announced the introduction of Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Pineapple and
Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Mango line extensions. These two additions to the
Captain Morgan portfolio of fine flavored rums are being introduced at a time
when the flavored rum category is experiencing explosive growth.
Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay
Pineapple and Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Mango extend the brand's positioning
to transform ordinary experiences into vibrant ones, while satisfying consumer
demand for greater versatility in flavored rums and increased variation in
their drinking repertoire. Following extensive research and testing, both the
pineapple and mango flavors were selected as best tasting and most imaginative
by consumers. The packaging for both flavors will remain consistent with the
existing Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Coconut bottle, which expresses vibrancy,
colorfulness, and distinctiveness while also delivering a touch of the exotic.
Beginning in May 2004, Captain
Morgan's Parrot Bay Pineapple and Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Mango will be
available wherever the Captain Morgan portfolio is available in both the on-
and off-premise. The standard 750ml size will retail, on par with Captain
Morgan's Parrot Bay Coconut, for approximately $13.99 MSRP. Drink
recommendations include mixing the new flavors with traditional fruit juices,
lemon-lime soda and cola. The launch of these two line extensions will be
supported with a media campaign (TV, OOH, radio), on- and off-premise
programming, PR and experiential sampling events.
"The introduction of Captain
Morgan's Parrot Bay Pineapple and Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Mango will fill
the growing demand for increased versatility in consumer's desire to have more
vibrant and colorful cocktail options to chose from," said Hernando
Ruiz-Jimenez, Captain Morgan's National Brand Group Director. "Who better
to offer this spontaneity and creativity than Captain Morgan?"
Ruiz-Jimenez questioned.
Currently ranked the #1 selling
flavored rum in the world, Captain Morgan is currently ranked the #4 selling
distilled spirit in the U.S. The Captain Morgan brand has experienced
continuous double-digit volume growth since its introduction in 1992 and has
received the prestigious distinction amongst all distilled spirits by being
awarded Impact's Hot Brand Award for thirteen of the past fifteen years.
Captain Morgan is the leading flavored rum that has been credited with the
explosive growth rates within the flavored rum segment, with 39% of that
category growth being driven exclusively by Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum.
Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay
Pineapple and Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Mango were developed by Diageo
Innovation to capitalize on the growing trend of exotic flavored rum popularity
among the LDA-29 consumer target. "Research indicates that this particular
consumer segment is continually looking for something new and unique. These two
new line extensions not only deliver on the unexpectedness associated with
Captain Morgan, but consumers have indicated that these flavors are extremely
great tasting as well," said John Kennedy, Vice President, Diageo
Innovation.
"With Captain Morgan's Parrot
Bay positioning of delivering a vibrant, tropical experience, the selection of
two very exotic flavors was a natural decision in keeping with the brand's
Caribbean-like influence and authenticity," added Hernando Ruiz-Jimenez.
In addition to introducing Captain
Morgan's Parrot Bay Pineapple and Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Mango flavor
line-extensions, Diageo has successfully introduced a number of new brands,
products and adult beverage drinking formats within the U.S. marketplace in the
last year alone, including the recently launched Smithwick's Ale, Smirnoff Ice
Twisted V Flavored Malt Beverages, Ciroc Vodka, Smirnoff Cranberry Vodka, Jose
Cuervo Classico and Baileys Minis.
7. Mexico
Relents on Tequila Crackdown (Mexico)
By: Amy Guthrie - Associated Press
April 7, 2004
MEXICO CITY – Mexican tequila
aficionados hoping to elevate the spirit's image among highbrow crowds will
have to wait.
The Mexican government, bowing to
pressure from the United States and Canada, has decided to keep allowing
distillers to export cheap tequila in bulk to be bottled outside the country.
Under tequila's denomination of
origin status, granted to select municipalities of five Mexican states in 1997,
the liquor must be distilled near the town of Tequila to be considered
authentic. Tequila claiming to be premium, or made entirely from the blue agave
plant, must also be bottled in the region.
Lower end, or mixed, tequila can
contain up to 49 percent cane sugar alcohol and be shipped out in bulk
containers for bottling elsewhere. In August, Mexico's Tequila Regulatory Board
proposed limiting the bottling of mixed tequila as well to the region in an
effort to guarantee the integrity of the drink, which sometimes is adulterated
with other types of alcohol.
For now, Mexico's Economy Ministry
said in a statement released last week, the bottling measure planned for 2005 wouldn't
be "the most convenient" for the tequila industry. It would have
forced the tequila companies to hurriedly invest in machinery and new
production lines, briefly raising prices for consumers and putting tequila's
competitiveness among distilled spirits at risk.
"This was the result of very
long, very difficult negotiations," said Eduardo Orendain, president of
the National Tequila Industry Chamber.
The tequila industry won't be able
to revisit the topic of bottling at the source for another five years.
Meanwhile, officials say they plan to tighten regulations for exporters and
overseas handlers. Tequila bottlers in California, for example, will have to be
certified by Mexican government inspectors.
Mexico exported 101 million liters
of tequila in 2003, about 70 percent of which was in bulk containers. About 80
percent of Mexico's tequila exports head to the United States, where it has
been steadily gaining popularity outside of fraternity houses and beach bars.
In Mexico, tequila is often sipped straight, or mixed with grapefruit-flavored
soda. The better tequilas are aged in oak barrels, giving them a complex and
smoky flavor.
"Essentially the proposal
would have jeopardized the very big value-priced segment of the (U.S.)
market," said Debbie Lamb, vice president of international affairs for the
Distilled Spirits Council, which represents companies with a combined 85
percent market share for tequila in the United States.
"We're grateful that Mexico
has acknowledged that it's not in Mexico's or the tequila industry's interest
to require bottling at the source," Lamb added.
Tequila is the fastest-growing
distilled spirit in America, with volume sales having expanded by 62 percent
since 1990 to represent 4.7 percent of total distilled spirit sales. U.S
consumers spent $2.8 billion on tequila in 2002 alone.
8. US:
Winemakers to Roll Out Yellow Tail Competitors
Source: just-drinks.com editorial
team
April 7, 2004
The list of rather comical names
for Australian wines in the US market looks set to continue with winemakers
McGuigan Simeon and Southcorp both set to launch brands to compete with the
success of the Yellow Tail brand.
McGuigan Simeon Wines has launched
a Crocodile Rock label, which is apparently named after the Elton John song
rather than Aussie outdoor personality Steve Irwin, famous for his crocodile
and wildlife programmes. Meanwhile Southcorp is rolling out the Little Penguin
range of Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot.
The wines are aimed at the
non-traditional wine drinkers market, the companies have said, and, are seen as
a direct result of the success of the Yellow Tail brand in the US market, which
now has 35% of the Australian wine market in the US.
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