What the Sunday papers said

Alcohol is fuelling a surge in violent crime, according to senior police officers. Noting Home Office figures which revealed a 7 per cent rise in violent crime in the UK last year, Commander Chris Allison of the Association of Chief Police Officers' alcohol and licensing group says: "All we are ever dealing with is people who have drunk too much. We are having to keep a lid on that symptom, every night of the week in every town and village up and down the country." - Sunday Times​

Alcohol Concern, the UK's agency on alcohol misuse, says it is concerned that women are choosing to abstain from alcohol during the week but are bingeing at weekends. The number of women who drink in excess of the recommended weekly limit of 21 units had risen by 70 per cent in the past 15 years. Additionally, it is estimated that up to 1,700 accidental deaths a year are linked to alcohol, and that between midnight and 5am 70 per cent of A&E visits are alcohol-related. - Independent On Sunday​

Cadburys Schweppes is close to finalising a strategic review which could see a sale of its Europen Beverages business for around £750m. Goldman Sachs, appointed as joint broker of Cadbury Schweppes last month alongside UBS, is expected to handle any sale. An £800m float of Britvic also looks to be back on the agenda. Its stock market debut earlier this year was pulled after poor trading last summer, although it could be back on within months. - Mail On Sunday​

The £200m-plus sale of Spirit Group's high street division is close to being scrapped after the last serious contender for the business pulled out. It is understood that ex-Pubmaster boss John Sands walked away from the table after being unable to agree a price for the 178 pubs Spirit is looking to sell. Other likely bidders have lost interest in recent weeks, althought one potential suitor remains. Meanwhile the Massive Pub Company, which owns 70 pubs in and around London, including the Tup chain, has appointed Cavendish Corporate Finance to conduct a strategic review of the £50m business. - Sunday Times​

Urbium shareholders have had enough of the spat between the company and Regent Inns, which has made several indicative offers for the group. They are said to blame Urbium's adviser Numis for blocking access to the group's books, a condition set by Regent if any bid is to proceed, and "are about to read the riot act". - Sunday Times​

And finally...

Dave Smith, owner of The Chequers pub in Ugley, Essex, wrought a terrible revenge on 11 local councillors with whom he was in dispute over a planning matter. Mr Smith marched into a parish council meeting and promptly barred them from entering his pub. - Independent On Sunday​