'Doctors slam oversized wine measures in pubs'

Pubs and bars are leading their customers into dangerous drinking by dressing up supersize measures of wine and spirits as standard orders, doctors warned yesterday. The Royal College of Physicians said the licensing industry was being "irresponsible" by slowly weeding out smaller servings. It fears that drink sizes have edged up by stealth and customers are often fooled into drinking more than they want to. - Independent On Sunday​

Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association, responded to concerns that pubs were offering larger wine glasses by arguing the move was in response to customer demand. "People felt short-changed in pubs because we were selling 125ml glasses," he told the BBC. "So the pub sector moved to serving us in exactly the same way as people drink in their own homes. In other words it's what people want to buy." If people asked for smaller measures, he said, pubs would produce them to keep their customers happy. - Sunday Times​

Robert Tchenguiz, the billionaire pubs and property tycoon, and a host of fellow investors in Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) will seek to oust chief executive Tim Clarke unless the company agrees to unlock billions of pounds from its real estate portfolio. The investors, who are understood to be acting separately but collectively account for about 40 per cent of M&B's shares, are preparing to move on the board of the group of the All Bar One chain pending next month's announcement about the outcome of a strategic review. - Sunday Telegraph​

Irish horse racing tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus have increased their stake in Mitchells & Butlers as the battle for control of the beleaguered pub group takes its latest turn. The Irish pair's investment vehicle Elpida Group has increased its stake in M&B from 4pc to 5.12pc as private equity firms continue to circle the pubs operator. US buyout group Bain Capital is understood to have taken the lead in the race to buy a stake in M&B, having made an offer of more than £400m for a 29.9pc stake in the company. - Sunday Telegraph​

No-frills airline Ryanair has been slammed for flogging two-for-one spirits on flights. It is offering passengers two 25ml sachets of 40 per cent proof vodka, brandy rum, whiskey or gin for £3.55. Alcohol watchdogs and passenger groups are outraged at the company's policy of pushing drink when drunken behaviour on flights is at an all-time high. - Daily Star​