What the Sunday papers said

Corby in Northamptonshire was recently branded by an official report as the yob capital of Britain. 55 per cent of those given Asbos breached their conditions. As the Friday night drinking kicks in, the effect on the young revellers is typical of towns and cities across Britain whose centres are becoming no-go areas at night: beer bottles are cracked open, shots are knocked back and it's not that long before blurry-eyed revellers stagger like zombies as they spill over from the pub into the dreary streets. Jonathan Killock, 19, said: "Corby used to be thriving but now it is run down and filthy. There's litter everywhere. I'd say Corby certainly is one of the worst places you could end up living." - Sunday Express​

It doesn't take many grey cells to understand that if you open pubs and clubs for longer, people will drink more, says Eamonn Holmes in his Sunday People column. "The endless studies and reports before the Government forced through their new licensing bill insisted that drinkers in this country would suddenly become all Mediterranean. They would drink the same, but over a longer period of time. But you and I knew all along that given the chance many would drink vat-loads more all day. The result? More people getting drunk and more antisocial behaviour. Come on Gordon, seize the initiative and implement tough new legislation to cope with this disaster." - Sunday People​

A twisted ex has been jailed for tipping beer over his former girlfriend's head in pubs—on 20 different occasions. Richard Norman, 22, drenched pretty Kelly Harding every time he saw her out on the town. She said after the case: "He turned into a serial beer drencher. I knew I'd get a beer shampoo every time I saw him." Warehouseman Norman was jailed for two years at Merthyr Crown Court for assault and breaching an order to stay away from Kelly. Kelly said: "Now I can go out at night without coming home drenched. I hate the taste of beer anyway." - News Of The World​

For four weeks the smoking ban devised by the Ministry of Culture has resulted in pavements outside pubs, bars and clubs across England being packed with people who would previously have puffed away inside, plus all those wishing to share their company. Pedestrians might as well stop and join in - otherwise they'd be missing a form of social interaction which unites the high and low, young and old, rich and poor, chatty and even more chatty. - Observer​