'Thousands of bars face closure in backlog of staff vetting'

Thousands of bars, clubs and off-sales in Scotland face the threat of closure, industry leaders warned yesterday, as it emerged that there is a massive backlog of licensees and staff who have to be checked and approved by the end of next summer. Senior police officers estimated at the weekend that as many as 60,000 staff across Scotland may have to have background checks - The Herald​

Cigarette machines are set to be banned in pubs, clubs and hotels across Scotland, it was revealed yesterday. Ministers indicated support for plans to remove the vending devices - as they give teenagers easy access to cigarettes. The bid by SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson is expected to be in a health bill next year, after pressure from the British Heart Foundation and the British Medical Association - The Sun ​

Scottish & Newcastle, Britain's largest beer and cider business, has ended its Christmas tradition of giving £30 of drink tokens to former employees, blaming the 'economic climate' and a rise in numbers of those eligible - The Guardian​

Consumers are planning to sacrifice short holidays, eating out and garden improvements as they strive harder to pay back debts in 2009. The study, last conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers in March, revealed restaurant and pub visits dropped down the priority table from fourth to twelfth - The Times​

The fight against drink and drug drivers is being stepped up by police forces across the UK in the run-up to Christmas and New Year. Police will increase the number of roadside breath tests and redouble efforts to raise awareness of the risks of motoring while under the influence. The Christmas THINK campaign will also see increased use of Field Impairment Tests to detect drug use - BBC News​

Research has found that it costs less to quench your thirst with alcohol than bottled water at leading supermarkets. Discounted own-brand alcohol is sold for as little as 23p per can, according to the drink and drug charity Addaction. This research comes on the eve of Government plans to tackle binge drinking. New laws, to be unveiled on Wednesday, will ban pubs, clubs and shops from "irresponsible" price promotions - The Times​

From today, travellers returning to Britain from outside the European Union will be able to bring back double the amount of wine without paying tax. The changes, the first since 1994, mean that holidaymakers can join the green "Nothing to declare" channel with four litres of wine. A new allowance of 16 litres of beer, previously classed among other goods, has also been introduced. Travellers can also now "mix and match" different kinds of alcohol and do the same with different tobacco products - The Independent​

It hasn't been Gordon Ramsay's week. First he had to endure newspaper reports of a seven-year affair and then the ceiling caved in at one of his gastro-pubs. A cornice collapsed at The Warrington in Maida Vale on Wednesday, showering customers in rubble. Ramsay, who was in another restaurant nearby went to the pub to deal with the situation - The Evening Standard​