There were no changes to alcohol and tobacco duty rates in yesterday's pre-Budget report, after they had been increased a year ago to offset the temporary reduction in VAT. Industry expects predict that the impact of VAT going back up to 17.5 per cent on 1 January and no respite in the burden on excise duties would add up to 18p on a packet of cigarettes and at least 6p on a pint of beer - The Independent
A bottle of Cognac that predates the French Revolution has fetched £22,650 at an auction of wine. A French entrepreneur bought the Cognac, bottled in 1788, from the Tour D'Argent restaurant in Paris, with proceeds going to charity. Some 18,000 bottles were sold for more than 1.5m euros at the auction - BBC
Drinking while on ski holidays could lead to disaster, health experts have warned. High altitudes and cold can intensify alcohols effects and this has been linked to 30 deaths in the Alps this year - The Times
SABMiller has been tipped as the most likely buyer of Femsa's beer business, which owns several beer brands including Sol. Sources said it is in more advanced negotiations than rival bidders, such as Kirin, Heineken and Sapporo, and the price is expected to be at least £4.5 billion - Telegraph
A new beer has been launched to celebrate the announcement of the UK's first official Dark Sky Park. Galloway Forest in south west Scotland was granted the rare status last month after being declared one of the best places in the world to go star gazing. Its official beer, a "robust and satisfying red bitter" called Galloway Stargazer, is actually brewed in Cumbria - BBC