New Department of Health figures for England and Wales suggest that one in six women aged between 16 and 64 are either addicted to alcohol or suffer health problems as a result of drinking. Nine per cent of women across both countries are classified as 'binge drinkers'. The study reveals that excessive drinking has soared in England but declined in Germany and France. - Independent On Sunday
Two thirds of Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries' 2, 352 pubs could be football- free zones by next July as the brewer attempts to attract more families to eat and drink in its pubs. The group has already removed Sky from 100 of its pubs and with more than half those apparently 'performing better' it is possible that up to 75 per cent of its estate will be TV free. - Mail On Sunday
Whitbread is expected to announce this week that it will return around £400m to shareholders. The group will pay for the return from proceeds of recent disposals, including its non-core pub restaurant business which it sold to Mitchells & Butlers. Whitbread has returned more than £800m to investors in the last two years after selling a number of businesses including Marriot Hotels. - Sunday Times
Top accountancy group PricwaterhouseCoopers is pushing a new security technology to banks and other firms which it says could replace chip and Pin. Details of 'Gridsure' are being kept under wraps, but it is believed the system works by creating a new Pin number for every transaction undertaken. - Mail On Sunday
And finally…
A drunk driver lost control of his car and crashed the vehicle through the wall of a local brewery, a court heard. Paul Bragginton was observed crashing his car into Palmers Brewery in Dorset by a passing police officer, who said Bragginton smelled strongly of drink. - Sunday Mirror