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Has Business Rebounded After Partial Rollback of Alcohol Ban?

Has Business Rebounded After Partial Rollback of Alcohol Ban?

Philippines' wine market/ What it takes to succeced in instant retail?/ IWSC results

Natalie Wang
August 25, 2025

This week, I’ll be travelling to New Zealand for their Business Forum, where I’ll be speaking on Asia’s evolving drinks market. Stay tuned for on-the-ground reporting and highlights from this year’s forum. Full program and speakers can be found here.

At the IWSC 2025, it wasn’t Bordeaux or Burgundy that captured the headlines, but an English sparkling wine and a Japanese shōchū. What does this reveal about shifting benchmarks of quality — and where innovation is coming from next?

We also dug into customs data from a market many overlook: the Philippines. Imports there defied global headwinds, surging nearly 30% in H1 2025, with the U.S. overtaking France as the top supplier. Could this be Asia’s next growth story?

On-demand retail is another trend reshaping the industry. Carlsberg Asia’s new partnership with Meituan, Grab and Delivery Hero underscores how alcohol retailing is moving faster and deeper into digital ecosystems. Yet in China, even as 60–70% of liquor chains embrace on-demand delivery, many are discovering barriers that slow meaningful growth.

Meanwhile, Beijing’s partial rollback of the alcohol ban has entered its second month, but questions linger over whether recovery is real. VATS Liquor Store’s H1 2025 results highlight the divide: baijiu sales are slipping, while wine is showing double-digit growth. What’s driving the divergence?

And finally, in education, the WSET Diploma tasting line-up has been published for the first time — offering a rare look at how future professionals will be tested, from Pomerol’s classics to Yellow Tail.

For more on the wine industry in China and Asia, be sure to subscribe to our website to read more subscriber-only content.

China’s Alcohol Ban: Has Business Rebounded After Rectification?

Two months after Beijing moved to soften its alcohol ban, some merchants report a faint sales uptick in August. But for most, the question remains: has business truly bounced back—or are deeper troubles still dragging the market down?

60–70% of China’s Liquor Chains Embrace On-Demand Retail but Face Hidden Barriers

As many as 70% of China’s liquor chains have joined the on-demand retail boom, betting on 20-minute delivery to revive sales. But behind the rapid expansion lie steep costs, price wars, and doubts over whether traditional shops can truly profit.

From Pomerol to Yellow Tail: WSET Reveals Diploma Tasting Line-Up for the First Time

For the first time, WSET has revealed the entire line-up of wines for the diploma tasting exams, opening a window onto its selection logic and testing philosophy.

TWE Flags Slowdown in China Sales After June as Alcohol Curbs Bite

Treasury Wine Estates has warned of a slowdown in stock depletion in China since June, as tighter alcohol restrictions and changing drinking habits dent sales momentum in its biggest Asian market.

English Sparkling, Japanese Shochu Take Top Honours at 2025 IWSC

An English sparkling wine and a Japanese shochu led the winners at the 2025 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), where fewer than 3% of over 7,000 global wine entries captured the coveted Gold medal.

Philippines’ Wine Imports in H1 2025 Surge 30%. What’s Driving the Growth?

The Philippines defied a global slump in wine sales with nearly 30% import growth in the first half of 2025, and in a surprise twist, the United States — not France or Australia — emerged as its largest supplier.

VATS Liquor Store Hit by Baijiu Downturn, Wine Posts Double-Digit Growth

Amid the slump, wine sales provided a rare bright spot. VATS liquor store said wine revenue rose 10.96% to RMB 246.7 million (US$34.5 million) in the first half.

‘Boldest Partnership Yet’: Carlsberg Asia Teams Up With Meituan, Grab and Delivery Hero

Carlsberg Asia, facing fierce competition in the region’s beer market, unveiled what it called its “boldest partnership yet,” launching a Digital Acceleration Program with the region's three delivery giants - Meituan, Grab and Delivery Hero - to drive growth in on-demand retail.

China’s Top 100 Importers

The 237-page report offers an in-depth analysis of regional dynamics and market opportunities across North China, Northeast China, East China, South Central, Southwest, and Northwest China. It identifies the top 100 wine importers currently operating in mainland China. This regional breakdown provides a clear picture of where market influence is concentrated—and how each part of the country is shaping the growth and transformation of wine consumption in China.