Setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol at 50p would save 3,400 lives a year without hitting the moderate drinker, MPs heard. Gordon Brown has already rejected the idea saying it would 'punish' the moderate drinker but this argument was 'specious' and 'selfish', the Commons Health Select Committee was told. Researchers at Sheffield University said a 50p per unit minimum would add just £12 a year to the drinks bill of the moderate drinker however someone drinking at harmful levels would be forced to pay £163 a year more - The Telegraph
A landlady's bid to save her business by creating a "smoking research room" has been abandoned after she faced losing the pub. Kerry Fenton aimed to sidestep smoking regulations by designating a room at the Cutting Edge pub in Worsbrough, South Yorkshire, for smoking research. She had been told customers would be able to smoke legally if they filled in a questionnaire on smoking habits. Pub owner Punch Taverns said she was in breach of her agreement - BBC
Luminar: Britain's biggest nightclub operator reported a 3.8 per cent fall in like-for-like sales in the nine weeks to April 30 as a 3.2 per cent rise in footfall was offset by a 10 per cent decline in drink prices - The Times
Fire crews have tackled a major blaze after a suspected arson attack at a former pub in east Hull. About 25 firefighters were involved in the operation at the Anchor Inn - known locally as Blue Heaven - in Southcoates Lane, which was closed off. The blaze was reported to the fire service at 1330 BST and crews were still at the scene several hours later. Nearby residents were advised to close windows and doors during the incident to keep out smoke and fumes. Humberside Fire Service spokesman Phil Leake said: "This property has been boarded up but obviously somehow somebody has got inside and set fire to it - BBC
Patrons of pubs in Saffron Walden have been warned to behave or be banned at the launch of a new scheme in the town. Essex Police and Saffron Walden Pubwatch formally launched the Behave or Be Banned (BOBB) scheme in this week at the Old English Gentleman pub and gave a stark warning to anyone who thinks of causing trouble in one of the partner pubs - Cambridge Evening News