Latest news with #AbsolutVodka
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pernod Ricard loses bid for New Delhi licence again amid probe
New Delhi city government has rejected for a third time Pernod Ricard 's request for a licence to sell its brands in India's capital, citing ongoing investigations, an order showed, dealing a blow to the French liquor giant in a key market. The order comes despite an Indian appeals authority in February asking city officials to reconsider the rejections as investigations against Pernod for allegedly breaching the city's liquor policy in 2021 had not so far resulted in any conviction. The Delhi city authorities disagreed and rejected Pernod's request again in a May 9 order, saying courts had upheld that local governments have "broad discretion to deny it (a licence) to entities that lack moral probity". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo "Mere existence of allegations and investigation justifies administrative caution in licensing matters," city Excise Commissioner Sunny K. Singh wrote in his order. The order is not public but was reviewed by Reuters on Thursday. Live Events Pernod said in a statement it did not agree with the decision, which pertains to an application filed for 2022-23, adding its "main focus is on securing a fresh licence for the current financial year." "We will continue to pursue all legal avenues available to us," it added. Delhi is a critical market for any liquor company in India. Pernod, whose brands include Chivas Regal and Absolut Vodka , has in the past said New Delhi alone accounted for 5% of its total sales in India, which stood at $3.13 billion last year. India's federal financial crime agency accuses Pernod of violating the city's rules by illegally extending bank guarantees to New Delhi's retailers, which in return agreed to boost the company's market share. That case is currently pending and Pernod has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. An internal investigation ordered by Pernod, however, concluded that its top executives did violate city law, even as its representatives denied wrongdoing publicly and in court, Reuters reported in December. In February, a Delhi appeals authority said Pernod's case merited a review as "there has to be a conviction beyond doubt by a court of law before any adverse opinion or action can be taken". The May 9 order disagreed, though, saying the allegations were about "serious economic offences , which justifies the state's preventive measures."
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Not fit to live in society' -- Decatur man held without bond after assault charge
Feb. 26—A Decatur man with a history of burglary and assault charges was denied bond at an Aniah's Law hearing Tuesday after allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and assaulting her last week. Roderick Lafayette Reynolds, 47, is being charged with first degree domestic violence and trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids. A few minutes before his hearing began Tuesday, Reynolds became irate in the courtroom and a bailiff tried to calm him down while Reynolds' brother sat in the audience and encouraged Reynolds to "control" himself. District Judge Shelly Waters entered the courtroom and addressed Reynolds, who had his head in his hands, to wake up and go sit by his attorney, Russ Prickett. The state called their first witness to the stand, Detective Michael Kent of the Decatur Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack asked Kent about the night of the alleged incident. "The victim stated she was trying to take her trash out at 5 p.m. that afternoon and the defendant showed up at her residence," Kent said. An affidavit signed by Kent said he arrived at the scene and observed that the glass of the back door of the victim's apartment was broken out. The victim told Kent that Reynolds had arrived at her residence unexpectedly on Thursday afternoon and made her go with him to Lowe's, according to the affidavit. She said Reynolds then brought her back home, and as she climbed out of his vehicle, she told him not to come back but he replied that he would return. "(The victim) reported Reynolds returned sometime later and made entry into her apartment through the back door," the affidavit said. "(The victim) claimed her and Reynolds 'fussed' and he physically assaulted her multiple times." Reynolds then forced the victim to unlock her cellphone for him, according to the affidavit. "(The victim) claimed that as she sat in an armchair within her living room, Reynolds produced a pistol and pressed it into her chest, telling her he was going to kill her," the affidavit said. "(The victim) claimed Reynolds also struck the top of her right hand with the pistol and pushed it against her face." Reynolds' ex-girlfriend resided on property owned by Decatur Housing Authority, according to the affidavit, and he was ordered to stay off all property owned by the Housing Authority on Aug. 14, 2024, for a period of two years. The affidavit said Kent noticed what he believed was a bruise on the victim's right hand and the victim claimed Reynolds intentionally pressed a lit cigarette against her left ring finger in retaliation for her not unlocking her cellphone. "(The victim) stated further altercation ensued and Reynolds eventually pushed her into her bedroom and onto her bed," the affidavit said. "(The victim) stated she made a remark towards Reynolds regarding her having relations with a known acquaintance of his, which angered him and resulted with him striking (the victim) with a glass 200ML Absolut Vodka bottle on the head." As Prickett began questioning Kent, Waters again chastised Reynolds for speaking out loud to the court. Prickett called Reynolds' older brother and sister to the stand next and his brother described Reynolds and his relationship to the victim as "toxic." "She's controlling and has to have control of the relationship," Reynolds' brother said. "She made the statement, 'If I can't have him, I'll have him locked up.'" He and Reynolds' sister said the victim gave their mother synthetic marijuana in November, causing her to be admitted to the hospital. "She said this wasn't about my mother or me, it was all about my brother," Reynolds' sister said. "I felt like she did that maliciously. She's put other men in jail because she can't have them." Waters asked Reynolds' sister if Reynolds was aware of his mother going to the hospital and she said no because he was incarcerated at the time. "Was it a burglary?" Schellack asked Reynolds' sister regarding why he was incarcerated. "I don't know," his sister replied as Reynolds became agitated and motioned for his sister to stop talking. Decatur police said they located Reynolds on Saturday at Studio 9 Motel. Police said Reynolds was located with Karen Myers, 41, at the motel and both were in possession of approximately 3.25 ounces of synthetic cannabinoids. Myers was booked into the Morgan County Jail and held in lieu of a $5,000 bond for trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, according to the Decatur Police Department. Myers also testified on Tuesday and said she has been dating Reynolds since November. She said the victim has sent her multiple text messages trying to deter her from pursuing a relationship with Reynolds. "She would say that I'm interfering in their relationship," Myers said. "Basically, she said if she couldn't have him, nobody could have him." After the witnesses testified, Schellack said Reynolds did not deserve a bond because of his 10 prior felony convictions. "Mr. Reynolds has quite an impressive criminal history here in Morgan County," Schellack said. "He was actually sentenced to a long term in prison for an assault case where he had shot someone and shot into an unoccupied vehicle during that crime. He was paroled, got out of prison and immediately committed a burglary and had his parole revoked. "He finished out his sentence and was released in, I believe, 2022, and was re-arrested by February 2023 for burglary, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools and he is out on bond for that as he sits here today." Schellack said Reynolds faces life in prison because this most recent charge is his second Class A felony. "Mr. Reynolds has demonstrated he is not fit to live in society," Schellack said. "Anytime he is out of custody, he commits new crimes." Waters said she will hold Reynolds without bond and he will remain incarcerated until his jury trial begins. — or 256-340-2442.
Wall Street Journal
06-02-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Pernod Ricard Lowers Guidance on Economic, Geopolitical Uncertainties
French liquor group Pernod Ricard RI -3.63%decrease; red down pointing triangle lowered its expectations for its fiscal year, citing economic and geopolitical uncertainties that continue to hit the spirits industry. The maker of Absolut Vodka anticipates a low single-digit decline in organic net sales for the year ending June and its aiming to sustain its organic operating margin. It had previously forecast a return to sales growth for fiscal 2025.
Wall Street Journal
31-01-2025
- Health
- Wall Street Journal
アルコール業界が依存するヘビードリンカー
ビールや蒸留酒の広告には大抵、「責任を持って飲みましょう」という注意書きが入っている。それでもアルコール業界は、公衆衛生当局が安全だとする量以上に飲む人たちに依存している。 株式調査会社バーンスタインが2023年に発表した分析によると、米国のアルコール販売量の推定90％は成人の5分の1が消費している。 Most ads for liquor or beer include a reminder to 'drink responsibly.' Still, the alcohol industry depends on people who drink more than public-health officials say is safe. A fifth of adults account for an estimated 90% of alcohol sales volumes in the U.S., according to an analysis published in 2023 by equity research firm Bernstein. 'Heavier drinkers are obviously where the money is,' said Philip Cook, a professor emeritus at Duke University whose 2007 book, 'Paying the Tab,' was among the scientific studies analyzed by Bernstein. That dependence has become a greater risk to companies as the U.S. government considers putting cancer warnings on alcohol packaging and lowering the recommended limit of drinks a day that people can safely consume. The industry's sales are declining because of consumer health concerns, expanding legalization of cannabis, the use of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and a generational shift toward less alcohol consumption. That leaves beer, wine and spirits companies more reliant on people like Kevin Turner. 'People know alcohol is bad for you, that it can be addictive. People understand that,' said Turner, 39 years old, of Orlando, Fla. 'It is poison. It is delicious poison, but it is absolutely poison.' On weeknights, Turner enjoys a couple of glasses of liquor from his home bar, which includes a dozen Scotches, as well as other whiskeys, bourbons, rums, gins and liqueurs. On weekend evenings, he often meets up with friends at a local bar for three or four beers. Turner, a former smoker, said he is confident he could stop drinking if he wanted to, but a cancer warning label or a revision to the federal dietary guidelines wouldn't immediately change his habits. For nearly three decades, the guidelines have said it is safe for men to have a maximum of two drinks a day and for women to have one. A standard drink measure in the U.S. is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. Alcohol-industry veterans say they are aware of the loyal customers but don't market to them. 'In any category, especially in alcohol, the industry is very concerned about overconsumption,' said Ann Mukherjee, the former North America chief at Pernod Ricard who introduced an Absolut Vodka marketing campaign addressing the role of alcohol in sexual assault. The alcohol industry, she said, would prefer to 'be less reliant on just a small group driving a majority of consumption. They don't think this is healthy for their own business, sustainability of the category, and for their own consumers.' Today, federal rules require alcohol labels with warnings about drunken driving and drinking during pregnancy, as well as a general warning that alcohol 'may cause health problems.' Beer, wine and spirits makers have corporate responsibility programs aimed at curbing underage drinking and impaired driving. And they try to avoid being seen as encouraging heavy drinking. Industry insiders say they spend more time worrying about how to attract new customers than retaining their old ones. It is hard to pinpoint how much people drink because people often underreport their own consumption. According to survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6% of American adults say they drink enough to meet the agency's definition of heavy drinking: at least 15 drinks a week for men and eight drinks for women. Bernstein's 2023 analysis put the figure much higher, finding that people who consume more than 14 drinks a week represent as much as 20% of adults in the U.S. Federal guidelines on alcohol consumption could change this year in an update by the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments. A report issued this month to inform the new guidelines found that for both men and women, one drink a day increases the risk of death from alcohol-related illnesses and injuries. The link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk has been established for at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat and voice box, according to the surgeon general. Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity. The alcohol industry generally acknowledges that heavy drinking increases the risk for several types of cancer, and the industry acknowledges that some studies have linked moderate drinking with increased breast-cancer risk. But industry groups also say that alcohol consumed in moderation can be part of a healthy lifestyle for some people. Industry lobbyists are fighting to prevent any changes to the federal guidelines, arguing that the risks are already known and that the government should take into consideration a recent report showing that moderate drinking lowers mortality rates. The discussion around the cancer risks of alcohol adds pressure to an already struggling industry. Shares of Constellation Brands plummeted this month after the company reported lower-than-expected beer sales and a $2.25 billion write-down on its wine and spirits business. The company—which makes Modelo Especial beer, Meiomi wine and Casa Noble tequila—lowered its sales and profit forecasts. Spirits maker Diageo has warned that it is facing weak consumer demand. And distillers in Kentucky are feeling pain as America's bourbon boom comes to an end, leaving them with a glut of barrels. Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman last week said it would cut about 12% of its workforce, or roughly 648 jobs. These trends could make the alcohol industry's reliance on its most ardent fans more acute—and more fraught. Tara Prinzivalli, 45, who lives in Staten Island, N.Y., drinks two or three glasses of wine nearly every evening at home or with her neighbors across the street. Prinzivalli, who prefers pinot grigio and Malbec, works as a radiation therapist treating cancer patients. She said a warning label about links between cancer and alcohol wouldn't prompt her to cut down. 'Cancer is not something I think about with wine,' Prinzivalli said. 'Maybe I love it too much or am just naive.' Write to Laura Cooper at
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police: Mass. man planned to ‘kill Scott Bessent' at US Capitol
WASHINGTON (WPRI) — A Massachusetts man was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday after admitting to an officer that he drove there with intent to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to authorities. An affidavit obtained by 12 News revealed that Ryan English is being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on Capitol grounds. English turned himself in to a U.S. Capitol Police officer outside the South Door just after 3 p.m. He was quickly detained and searched after he admitted to having two Molotov cocktails on him. The affidavit states that officers found a folding knife in English's pocket, as well as two 'destructive devices' inside his jacket pockets. Those devices each consisted of a 50-milliliter bottle of Absolut Vodka with a gray cloth affixed to the top. English told the officers that the bottles contained vodka and the rags were soaked in hand sanitizer. He then asserted that he had planned to 'kill Scott Bessent' — President Donald Trump's pick to run the Department of Treasury — and noted that he had more Molotov cocktails in his vehicle. Officers located his vehicle parked on Independence Avenue Southwest and uncovered a 750-milliliter bottle of Smirnoff Vodka and a gray sweatshirt with cloth cut from the sleeves. 'This sweatshirt was consistent with the cloth affixed to the destructive devices,' the affidavit said. The affidavit also said the officers found a receipt in one of English's back pockets with a letter written on the back. 'Judith dear god I am so sorry,' the note read, according to the affidavit. 'You must understand I can feel myself dying slowly b/c of my heart. This is terrible but I can't do nothing while Nazis kill my sisters.' 'I love you. This is awful. I'm so sorry,' the note continued. 'Please stay alive and heal. You can. You are strong enough. [Expletive] them for pushing us so far. You don't deserve this. I'm so sorry for lying and plotting and lying. Please survive. [7 hearts]' English confessed to investigators that he left his Massachusetts home Sunday for Washington, D.C. with the intent to kill Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. The affidavit said he also considered burning down the Heritage Foundation. 'These actions were specifically to 'depose' these political offices and send a message,' the affidavit explained. English told police he left his phone at home so he couldn't be tracked and bought an atlas with cash so he could find his way to Washington, D.C., without using a GPS. He switched targets after he stopped at a library in Maryland and learned that the U.S. Senate would be voting on whether to confirm Bessent, according to the affidavit. English allegedly considered throwing the Molotov cocktails at Bessent's feet and stabbing him with the knife if he could get close enough. He also determined after surveilling the Capitol grounds that he would need to kill at least three officers to get to Bessent and 'expressed acceptance and content with the possibility of suicide by cop.' Bessent's nomination was confirmed roughly three hours after English's arrest. It's unclear exactly what motivated English to turn himself in. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
