'Traders try to scupper Tesco alcohol plans'

Traders and shoppers have launched a last-ditch attempt to scupper Tesco's plans to move in to Wanstead - by urging the council not to grant the chain an alcohol licence. Embattled businesses and residents fear the supermarket giant will "destroy" the High Street when they open a new shop there, and fear the chain's cut-price booze deals could encourage binge drinking and anti-social behaviour - This is Local London​

Pub group Enterprise Inns frothed up strongly yesterday after the company said it was confident of meeting repayment schedules on its £3.7billion debt. Chief executive Ted Tuppen said the company had also seen sales stabilise during the first three months of the year, despite February's snow, and that the "majority of our pubs continue to trade remarkably well"- The Daily Express​

Christie + Co, the property agent, reported a year-on-year 12 per cent increase in the number of pub transactions in the first quarter of 2009 to 150 and said it expected to complete on a further 120 sales during April - The Times​

A teenage girl died after a drinking session at a house party. Lorna May, 17, was found by friends slumped on the sofa clutching an empty bottle. The teenager, from Newquay, Cornwall, went to the impromptu party, where she drank large quantities of alcohol - The Daily Mail​

The Competition Authority is seeking to have the chief executives of two publicans' organisations brought before the High Court to explain why they should not be jailed and their organisations' assets seized for alleged contempt arising from their announcement of a drinks price-freeze. It is seeking orders for the chief executives and council members of the Licensed Vintners' Association (LVA) and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) to be brought before the court - The Irish Times​