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Going by the name Pivní Filosof, or the Beer Philosopher, Max Bahnson blogs in English and Spanish about all aspects of Czech pivo and beer culture. The Argentinean, who has little time for those who look down on popular, mass-produced brews, has written a guide to Prague’s pubs and is currently working on a second book.

Production of beer increased 2.7 percent year on year in 2012, according to the Czech Brewers’ Association. The increase was driven by higher consumption and export of radlers. Consumption of radlers, popular among young people, reached 434.000 hectolitres in 2012, while consumption of traditional brews dipped slightly. There is also increasing demand for beer in cans and plastic bottles.

In this week’s business news: The Czech Republic will have to build around 13 000 charging points for electric cars by 2020; The greatest number of foreign investors have decided to enter the Czech market last year since the beginning of the economic crisis; ČEZ’s distribution license in Albania has been revokes by the government there; Czech government debt is the eighth lowest in the whole of the EU; Budvar was unable to stop rival Anheuser-Busch from having the right to register the ‘Bud’ trademark in Europe.

The Luxembourg-based General Court of the European Union, has rejected an appeal by the Czech brewer Budějovický Budvar against the use of the trademark Bud by the international beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, the maker of Budweiser. In a statement on Tuesday, the EU’s second highest court said Anheuser-Busch InBev NV could register the trademark Bud because of its insignificant use in France and Austria. The decision is the latest development in a legal battle that has been running in several territories for many years.

In Business News this week: Czech government approves savings measures of 8.6 billion crowns; a new pipeline opens providing alternate route for Russian gas; car maker Škoda Auto posts record sales; most Czech joint-stock companies are anonymously owned; Budvar wins major trademark battle in UK.

The Czech government will make a fresh effort to fight smoking and alcoholism, both of which have long been a serious problem in the country. After several failed attempts, the Health Ministry plans to introduce a general smoking ban in public spaces. In addition, the ministry will also push for a move that would oblige restaurants, bars and pubs to offer at least one non-alcoholic beverage at a lower price than the cheapest alcoholic drink.

In Business News this week: Czech government planning to stimulate growth, approved financial constitution, health insurance companies are falling into debt, and the national brand label “České pivo” increasingly popular with Czech brewers.

The biggest Czech beer producer Pilsner Urquell will raise prices of their world-famous brew on average by three percent, starting 1 October, the brewery announced Friday. The increase is due to the rising prices of ingredients. The price hikes will apply to a large part of the company’s portfolio, mainly bottled beer. However, it will exclude the 50-litre barrels of the popular Gambrinus and Radegast brands to boost dropping beer sales in pubs and bars. Other Czech breweries are reportedly not considering any immediate price hikes but said they could not rule out a similar move.

This week in business news: the government’s economic advisory council says state institutions are not being frugal enough; fuel prices are breaking high records for the second week in a row; a Czech company will build wind generators in Pakistan; hops harvest this year is drastically lower than usual; and the two main Krkonoše ski resorts will now be run by private companies.

Budějovický Budvar, the state-owned maker of Budweiser Buvar beer has terminated a deal with rival US Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch, according to the AP. Under the 2007 deal, the two rivals, who have been engaged in a decades-long legal dispute of the Budweiser trademark, the Czech Budvar beer was distributed by Anheuser-Busch in the US under the brand name “Czechvar”. Despite an initial surge in sales to the US, Budvar complained that post-2008, the new owners of Anheuser-Busch, the Belgian company InBev, lost interest in the product, with 2011 sales only at 30% of what had been projected. According to Budvar, the company United State Beverages located in Stamford, Connecticut will now take over distribution of Czechvar from InBev.