All-day drinking has led to a "significant drain on police resources" as officers are being used to deal with the after-effects of binge-drinking, police say. Police Federation leaders will tell MPs licensing reforms are not working with emergency 999 calls going unanswered as police are "tied up with intervening in pub fights or drunken street brawls." - Daily Telegraph
Badly behaved children are ruining the experience of a quiet pint, Britain's leading pub guide has found. Editors of The Good Pub Guide 2009 have received a record number of complaints from readers about visits to their local watering hole being spoilt by ill-mannered children. Landlords, as well as customers, are becoming increasingly frustrated at how many pubs transform into creches at the weekend, making it difficult for many people to enjoy a drink - Daily Telegraph
ITV is to cash in on the popularity of Coronation Street by launching a range of spin-off products, such as Newton & Ridley beer and Rovers Return pub grub, that could make it millions of pounds. The commercial broadcaster will launch a wide range of brand extensions of the popular soap in the run up to its 50th anniversary in 2010 - The Guardian
Police seized more than 240 gallons of alcohol from Scotland fans heading to Hampden on Saturday in a massive booze blitz. Almost 200 buses and minibuses were stopped at roadblocks to check if supporters were carrying drink to the World Cup qualifier with Norway - The Sun
Plans to curb Britain's drinking culture will kill off pubs and clubs, it was claimed last night. Ministers want to impose a mandatory code of conduct in 186,000 licensed premises to cut public drunkenness and promote sensible drinking. Leaked proposals show happy hours would be restricted because they encourage speed-drinking while soft drinks would have the same discounts as alcohol - The Daily Express
A new beer commissioned for a Suffolk army base is raising money for troops. The drink was brewed as a present for soldiers of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps, based at Wattisham, near Ipswich, from an officer who was leaving the base. But the brew, called AH 6.4 after the Apache helicopter which is based at Wattisham, is so popular Bartrams Brewery will carry on producing it. Now 10p from every bottle sold will be made to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) - BBC News