Wine-drinking in Italy has reached record lows thanks to the economic crisis and changing consumer habits, according to a report by the country’s main farmers’ association released on Saturday. Consumption has plummeted by 22 per cent over the past decade to its lowest level since the 19th century, with sales falling by two per cent between 2011 and 2012 alone, the report by Coldiretti found.
Italians drank a total of 22.6 million hectolitres of wine in 2012, compared to 29.0 million hectolitres in the US and 30.3 million in France. An online survey also by Coldiretti found that 32 per cent of respondents said they only drank wine on special occasions, 18 per cent said they would have one or two glasses a week and six per cent said they never drank any wine.
“The wine sector has suffered the gravest crisis in the food and drinks industry in terms of domestic consumption but has become a leader of Made in Italy production by directing itself toward exports,” it said.
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Jacko feared he’d be shot on stage: pal
London: Weeks before his actual death, King of Pop Michael Jackson had feared being shot on stage while performing in a concert, says singers’ close friend Jason Pfeiffer.
The dermatologist also claimed that the 50-year-old musician had predicted his own death weeks before his fatal overdose that actually killed him, reported Sun online.
“The last time I saw him he was saying his goodbyes to everyone in the office. It was like Jackson knew he was never coming back, and he would often say he thought he was going to be shot on stage,” Pfeiffer said.
— PTI