'Alcohol counselling for offenders'

Problem drinkers arrested for alcohol-related crimes will be forced into counselling under a newly launched £1million Home Office scheme. The project will see criminals with drink problems sent to alcohol specialists for advice on reducing their consumption - The Daily Mirror​

Scotland must take urgent action to tackle the nation's alcohol problems - including raising the purchase age to 21, according to one of Scotland's most distinguished public health experts. Professor Sir John Crofton, who developed the first cure for tuberculosis in the 1950s, said the "misery" and "horrors" linked to the current drinking culture had to end - The Scotsman​

Learner drivers and taxi operators in Ireland could be hit with stricter drink-driving limits in new legislation. Pressure is on the Irish Government to drop the current general level for all motorists from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg. However the limits for learner drivers, taxi drivers and truckers could fall to 20mg - The Press Association​

Germans may be in the middle of a recession but at least two things remain constant: beer drinking and saving. Beer-drinking, despite predicted price rises of between five and eight per cent, will still be a healthy 112 litres a head in 2008 or the same as in 2007, according to the head of Bavaria's private brewers - The Guardian​

A Scarborough landlady is the toast of her regulars - after giving birth to a baby girl in a busy pub. Anne Williams, 27, gave birth to the healthy tot at the Eastfield Hotel. The baby girl, who is yet to be named was born within just an hour - luckily the midwife made it in time for the early evening delivery. Drinkers were in the bar at the time - Scarborough Evening News​