Bartenders and bar owners from the top 50 bars globally have named their favourite spirit brands in a recent report run by Drinks International. The drinks magazine asked participating bars from Australasia, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to state which brands they love the most and simply couldn’t be without in the Bartenders’ Choice poll. For the third time in four years, it was Tanqueray which received bars’ ...

ALSA Retail Insights Project Manager, Mal Higgs, explains what relies on the health of the relationship between a supplier and retailer. Most would argue that for an industry to survive and thrive, there needs to be a healthy and productive relationship between the supplier and retailer. The supplier’s job after all, is to create the demand for their product in the eye of the consumer, while the retailer’s is to satisfy ...

LMG Marketing has announced a rebrand of its name and website to OnTap Data. The business launched as LMG Marketing in 1997 to provide consulting and data management services specific to the hospitality industry. 18 years on, Director and founder Leith McGregor said it was time for a change. “The business has grown so much over the years and we felt it was time to have a name that is a better ...

Melbourne-based hospitality group, Dixon Hospitality, has announced its acquisition of three iconic Sydney venues from entrepreneur James Wirth’s Drink’n’Dine group. The acquisition includes The Oxford Tavern in Petersham, The Forresters in Surry Hills and The Norfolk in Redfern, bringing the total number of venues under Dixon Hospitality up to 28. The acquisition also sees the family owned company enter into the Sydney market for the first time. “We’re starting to get scale and ...

Coopers and its distribution business Premium Beverages have created what they’re calling “some of the best jobs in Australia”. These new roles will open up the opportunity for a lucky few to be ‘beer ambassadors’ for the company. As ambassadors, each will responsible for meeting with customers, consumers, hoteliers, restaurateurs and bar staff around Australia to share and talk all about beer. They will also be responsible for explaining Coopers’ brewing practices and ranges. ...

From February, Sydney’s famous The Island Bar will relocate, leaving behind its current location on the iconic Cockatoo Island. Owners Marco Faraone and Mike Edkins decided to make the move after experiencing difficulties with coming to an agreement with Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to renew their lease. The Island Bar has been home to Cockatoo Island for the past five summers and seen some 350,000 visitors pass through its doors during that ...

A case involving an employee of a large South Australian wine producer last month should have caught the attention of everyone in the drinks trade, because it involved that ever-present industry hazard of an employee being over the limit in the workplace. By Walter MacCallum, Director, Aitken Lawyers The employer had recently implemented a trial workplace drug and alcohol policy at one of its plants in Berri. The policy aimed to maintain a safe environment, compliant with ...

Diageo Australia has launched a new responsible drinking campaign that tells consumers to ‘Know Your Standards’. The campaign will be displayed through high impact posters, drink coasters and digital screens in pubs, bars and clubs in Sydney’s CBD and parts of Queensland from Christmas. The aim of the campaign is to help young adults calculate the level of alcohol in their drink of choice. To do so, campaign visuals will show the ...

Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police, Troy Grant, has announced that inspectors from the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) will be targeting licensed venues this Christmas and New Year. Mr. Grant said inspectors will be deployed across Sydney and regional locations including the Central West, North Coast and Hunter as part of a ‘festive season blitz’ operation that started over the weekend. Sydney locations to be targeted ...

The Liquor Stores Association NSW (LSA) has elected its new board members for 2015-16. The members were named at the association’s AGM on Tuesday, when industry stalwart, Michael David, announced he would be resigning from the Board of Management. Mr. David has been on the board for over 30 years, joining in the early 1980s after he opened Elizabeth Bay Cellars, which he owns and operates today. Mr. David is also know ...