'Union writes to 37,000 licensees in "strike" ballot'

"Trade union the GMB is writing to 37,000 publicans urging them to join it and vote in a ballot over industrial action it says will be a 'strike' at tenanted pub companies such as Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns. The GMB is to 'seek a mandate for official industrial action', which it hopes will achieve 'very substantial cuts in wholesale prices and a resolution to a wide range of grievances experienced by the tied tenants'. Meanwhile a protest is planned this Thursday at The Globe pub in Letchworth, which two months ago was named the most improved pub in North Hertfordshire by CAMRA. Tenants Brian and Alison Forgie have been given ten days to quit by Punch. The couple, backed by anti-pubco group Pub Revolution, say they are being treated harshly by Punch for buying beer off-tie just once, and will refuse to leave the pub." - Daily Mail​

"All cans and bottles of booze must carry health warnings by law from next year. The drinks industry will be forced to give alerts on beer and spirits just like those on cigarette packs. Public Health minister Gillian Merron will announce next month the government has lost patience with a voluntary initiative. She said: 'We are working with the industry to include units, drinking guidelines and pregnancy warnings. Where progress on industry's voluntary commitments is slow we can expect to legislate.'" - Sunday People​

"People charged with assaulting hospital staff after drinking in Swansea are to be banned from the city's pubs and clubs over Christmas. It is part of the Safer Swansea Partnership annual 'Call time on violent crime' initiative. It will see an exclusion zone set up which will ban people who have been charged with assaulting hospital staff from drinking in the city centre." - BBC​

"The London Ambulance Service has set up a booze hospital for festive revellers a week earlier than last year. The emergency facility is at Liverpool Street Station to treat patients who are drunk or have minor injuries. Duty Station Officer for City and Hackney Nick Lesslar said: 'Every minute that we spend mopping up vomit, is a minute that could have been spent helping a patient who is seriously ill or injured'. The temporary marquee will be open from 3pm until 3am Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until Christmas." - Sky News​

"The billionaire currency trader Joe Lewis has blocked the appointment of Archie Norman as chairman of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the £1bn pub group. Lewis, who holds almost 23 per cent of M&B's shares and also owns Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, opposed the move, and used his influence as the group's largest shareholder to ensure Norman would not be given the job. There are growing fears among analysts that Lewis is in effect gaining control over the group without making a takeover bid for it. He bought his stake from Robert Tchenguiz, the property mogul, in the wake of last year's banking crisis. M&B is looking for a new chairman after Drummond Hall decided to step down after only 18 months in the job." - Sunday Times​

"A planned sale of poets' portraits from one of Scotland most famous writers' watering holes has sparked anger that a vital piece of the city's literary heritage is disappearing for good. Drawings of legendary writers like Hugh MacDiarmid and Norman MacCaig have been removed in what a spokeswoman for Punch Taverns, the chain that now owns Milne's bar in Edinburgh's New Town, said was one of its corporate 'sparkle' refurbishments, to refresh the pub for Christmas." - Scotland on Sunday​

"Several pub brewing groups are due to announce their latest financial results this week. Greene King and Marston's have been strong performers despite recession, although clouds are gathering on the horizon for the sector next year. Analysts expect Greene King to report full-year profits of £123m for the group, three per cent ahead of the previous year, while Marston's is expected to announce pre-tax profits of £70.4m for the year to September, down from £85m previously." - Press Association​