What the Sunday papers said

The legal minimum age for buying tobacco in the UK may be raised to 18. The government is considering upping the age limit, currently 16, after opinion polls showed strong public support for a rise. An ICM survey of 1,010 adults revealed that more than half those polled believed the minimum age should be even higher, at 21. Ninety per cent believed there should be harsher penalties for those who sell to the under-aged, but both pro- and anti-smoking campaigners recognise enforcement would be a problem. - Sunday Express​

Health groups are concerned that the consultation exercise on raising the minimum age for buying tobacco products from 16 to 18 is a cover to placate rebel MPs who oppose the government's food-led smoking ban in pubs. The Tories are to table an amendment allowing for the removal of the smoking bill's clause which permits pubs that don't serve food to escape the ban. The shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the current proposals would widen health inequalities. - Observer​

Raising the age for those wishing to buy to cigarettes from 16 to 18 "has the undoubted merit of consistency". It makes no sense to permit young people access to tobacco, which is deadly in any quantity, two years before they can legally consumer alcohol, which most studies suggest is good for you in moderate amounts. Education [against smoking] is one thing, but the more that can be done to restrict smoking in environments such as bars and clubs where smoking is regarded by youngsters as 'de rigeur' the less likely they are to end up getting hooked. - Independent On Sunday​

Punch Taverns won the race for Spirit Group despite submitting a lower bid than rival suitor Robert Tchenguiz. It is a great deal for Punch, led by 37 year-old Giles Thorley. Not only is the group buying an extra £300m of underlying profit but it will be able to exploit considerable synergy benefits, such as purchasing power for food and drink. - The Business​

Punch Taverns may inherit two major rows following its swoop on Spirit Group last week. Spirit is entering mediation with Red Bull after allegations that some of its bar staff were "passing off" the Red Rooster energy drink when asked for Red Bull. And the pub group is facing potential criminal proceedings from BSkyB and the Federation Against Copyright Theft for the alleged use of illegal decoders to broadcast football matches at some of its premises. Pubs typically pay £475 a month to show Sky Sports and BSkyB said it would protect its commercial customers' interests with a range of enforcement activities. - Sunday Express​

Enterprise Inns are "market beaters" - bar none. The UK's largest pubs group (sic) attracted a range of comment from City brokers in the wake of its annual results announced on November 22. Merrill Lynch said the results were "market beating", while UBS was similarly buoyant, reiterating a buy rating. Investec mirrored the positive comment but noted ongoing consumer weakness could offset upside provided by the liberalisation of the licensing laws. - The Business​

Slow growth in recent years and a highly competitive market means that potentail investors in Britvic should only buy at 200p or below, says Schroders' fund manager Andy Brough. Along with other factors Britvic has had to cope with a declining fizzy drinks market, but if it can develop its J20 and Fruit Shoot brands along with its new Ben Shaws water business it may have the products for the growing still soft-drinks market, says New Star's Tim Steer, who adds "only consider this at the very bottom of the range". - Sunday Times​

Living Ventures, which operates The Living Room, Prohibition and and Bar and Grill chains, plans to open 10 more outlets following its £16.4m purchase of the Restaurant Group's flagging Est Est Est business. Aligning the cultures of both entities is crucial if Living Ventures' co-founder and ex-Aussie TV soap star Tim Bacon is to hit this target. Nevertheless he takes staff matters, such as training, seriously and plans to spend around £450,000 in refurbishing each of the 20 restaurant his group has bought. - Sunday Times​

The Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds is about to change hands as part of the deal which will see its owners, the Furlong Group, acquired by Dawnay Shore Hotels early next week. The pub is said to have hosted Oliver Cromwell on the eve of the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Charles I also spent a night in the inn - not, one can safely assume, on the same evening as Mr Cromwell. The Lygon Arms was originally known as the White Hart. - Sunday Times​