Weekend round-up: Alcohol one-third cheaper than 10 years ago

Published: 27 October, 2008

A round-up of stories from the weekend newspapers.

A round-up of stories from the weekend newspapers.

Mail on Sunday: A Dutch company has developed a fruit-flavoured herbal drink promising an instant high followed by a relaxing effect, aimed at smokers who can no longer light up in public places. Liquid Smoking, from United Drinks and Beauty Corporation, is set to go on sale in the UK in the week before Christmas. It does not contain nicotine, but a mixture of roots from South African plants. The company hopes to follow Red Bull and have the product sold in pubs and bars as a mixer. A 275ml can would cost £1.50 in shops and £2.00 in bars and pubs.

The Observer: Alcohol is up to a third cheaper in shops than it was a decade ago, according to new Treasury figures. The revelation will increase pressure on the government to curb irresponsible price cutting, says the newspaper. Mark Hastings of the British Beer and Pub Association blamed cheap supermarket promotions for pushing pubs out of business. "People are staying at home. Nipping out to the supermarket to buy a few cans is infinitely cheaper," he said.

Scotland on Sunday: Managed pub chain Barracuda has appointed Deloitte to review the way it is funded. Barracuda, founded in 2000, is looking to "develop options for funding the business and its growth strategy and to reorganise its ageing debt structure over the next two to five years", says the newspaper.

The Sunday Times: Punch Taverns, whose pub chains include Chef & Brewer, has defied the banking crisis to secure renewal of its £50m credit facility with Royal Bank of Scotland. The arrangement has been renewed for two years on terms said to be consistent with the previous arrangement.

The Sunday Times: Nearly one-third of regular drinkers have sustained enough liver damage to increase their risk of dying early, according to a new study. The research from University College London found an unexpectedly high level of liver abnormalities among routine drinkers. It studied more than 1,000 men and women who had bought home-testing kits for liver damage. The government is considering the introduction of routine screening to tackle rising levels of liver disease.