'Punch Taverns to warn smoke ban honeymoon period at an end'

Punch Taverns is expected to warn that any honeymoon period from the smoking ban is firmly over and that it is likely to affect future profits when it reports full-year results on Thursday. The pub operator said at the beginning of September that full-year profits would be two to three per cent - £6m-£8m - below previous expectations due to the dismal summer weather. But analysts are now expecting pre-tax profit of around £279m, down from the previous consensus forecast of £285m. - Scotland On Sunday​

Property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz is considering floating the restaurant part of his Laurel Pub empire. Tchenguiz is in the middle of splitting the business into two separate entities, with one owning restaurant chains such as Slug & Lettuce, Ha Ha Bar and La Tasca, while the other will house pubs, including the Yates chain. He has held informal discussions about the spin-off with potential advisers. although the talks are at a preliminary stage. A source said "there are no plans to do anything this calendar year". - Sunday Times​

Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) has formed a 'kitchen cabinet' headed by incoming chief executive John Dunsmore to fend off the Carlsberg/Heineken bid. One source close to S&N said: "It is a hell of an experienced team, they [S&N] wouldn't have begun legal action if they didn't think they had a case. This will be a very close fight." Judging by recent history S&N are going to need every bit of experience they can get. Despite the cool exterior the Danes have a reputation for being probably the most unfaithful partners in the world. In the past four years, the Danish brewery group has ended joint agreements three times. - Scotland On Sunday​

Record numbers of children are in treatment for alcohol abuse. Britain's drinking culture, combined with the sheer availability and affordability of alcohol, is taking a heavy toll of those most vulnerable to its effects. An investigation by the Independent on Sunday​ has discovered that children as young as 10 are spending up to three years in treatment, ranging from residential rehabilitation to specialist counselling. Continued price promotions, combined with a rise in incomes, means that alcohol has never been more affordable. And the explosion in child drinkers is being fuelled by a culture of drinking to get drunk, experts claim. - Independent On Sunday​

Local councillors will present evidence to the annual conference of the British Toilet Association (BTA) this week showing that a pioneering community scheme in which businesses are paid £600 a year to open their toilets to non-customers has been a big success. Volunteer members in Richmond, south-west London, display a 'Community Toilet Scheme' sticker in their windows. Participants include dozens of pubs. The businesses are paid £600 annually from the budget that was previously spent on maintaining public toilets. There are now only five left in the borough. - Observer​

Bosses at the North West pub co Yesteryear were stunned to be told to cancel a wet t-shirt competition because officials ruled that it was too dangerous. Managing director Tony Callaghan said: "One key condition of a wet T-shirt contest is that people get wet. We've been advised that people who get wet could sue if they get pneumonia. Others could hurt themselves on slippery surfaces—and some of the better-endowed participants may cause blokes to drop their drinks!" Backbench Tory MP David Davies branded the ban crazy. "This is a real boob," he said. "How dare they outlaw this? They just want to stop anyone having any fun." - News Of The World​