"The region of Greater Manchester is planning to become the first in England to impose a minimum price for the alcohol sold in its supermarkets, pubs and off-licences in an attempt to tackle binge drinking. Council and National Health Service leaders across the 10 boroughs say they need to raise the price of drinks because the region has higher than average rates of deaths and hospital admissions from alcohol consumption." - Sunday Times
"This week all eyes will be on the Office of Fair Trading, which will decide whether a complaint made by real ale lobby group CAMRA about the validity of the beer tie has any merit. Industry trade body the BBPA believes abolition of the tie would 'sound the death knell of regional and local brewers across the country', as well as seeing rents increase as pub companies made up for the lack of income from beer sales. Publicans disagree; some will march on Parliament in December to protest at the tie. - Mail On Sunday
"Pub bosses face an investigation into claims that drinkers are being over-charged by up to 80p a pint. Campaigners and MPs say they force "tied-in" pub landlords to buy beer at above market rates and say the deals are crippling pubs. This week the Office of Fair Trading will deliver its verdict on the over-charging claims. A pint of lager costs £3.06 on average at "tied" pubs in the South and - a third more than at Wetherspoon's "free houses" in the region." - Mirror
"An undercover operation has revealed children can buy cigarettes from pub vending machines in Liverpool. A city council investigation sent a 15-year-old girl to 12 city centre "family" pubs. She was able to buy cigarettes from eight and was only stopped in the other four because the machines were out of order. Health chiefs say the investigation shows why government proposals to ban cigarette vending machines will help protect children. None of the pubs in question had staff watching the machines to stop under 18s using them." - Liverpool Echo
"The future of Regent Inns, the debt-laden pub chain, which employs 2,000 staff, is in doubt after a management buy-out collapsed on Friday. The group's bank consortium, led by HSBC, is now hoping it can persuade a trade buyer to acquire the business. The banks received an approach last Friday and talks will resume early this week. If successful, the pub group, which runs the Walkabout pub chain, will be put into a pre-pack administration. It will then be immediately bought by the new owner. Regent has previously attracted interest from the Orchid Group — controlled by private equity group GI Partners — Brook Leisure, Novus Leisure and most recently 3D Entertainment, 49 per cent owned by Luminar." - Sunday Times