In a world where bottles of wine featured dead wasps, the beer was often sour and the vodka adulterated, drinks such as Balsams were reliable, and for the most part available.

ECONOMIST: Firewater in Eastern Europe

Big Beer knows that the domestic market is dead, which is why AB InBev, SABMiller (Pink: SBMRY) and Heineken (Pink:HEINY) have gone on an emerging market buying spree over the past decade.

FORBES: Sober Up: The American Beer Market Is Flat

Bresnan said the England dressing room was "a fairly jubilant" place as the team celebrated with bottles of beer ahead of the first of the two dead rubbers next Wednesday.

BBC: Tim Bresnan seals victory for England