'Poor weather dampens pubs' sales'

The UK's leading pub and restaurant groups suffered a sharp slide in sales in November, ending a run of upbeat trading figures. Sales last month were down 7.4pc on October, according to data to be published today in the Coffer Peach Business Tracker, a monthly index that aggregates sales at 15 major groups including Mitchells & Butlers and Whitbread - The Telegrap​

Selling kids booze at "pocket money prices" has caused a huge rise in youth crime figures, it was claimed yesterday.More than 6,000 children aged 10 to 15 were cautioned or taken to court for alcohol-related crimes between 2003 and 2007 - including an alarming 124 who were 12 or under - The Mirror​

A hi-tech company which tests hair samples for evidence of drug and alcohol misuse is hoping to expand. TrichoTech, based in Cardiff, has just been named winner of the Wales Innovation Award 2009. It currently employs more than 50 staff at Pentwyn, but plans to take on 10 new staff in the new year and increase annual turnover from £8m to £9.5m - BBC​

The Scottish Government has launched a fresh bid to win support for a minimum price for alcohol - by pointing to looming tax rises. Alcohol duty rises of inflation plus 2% due to take effect next year would make no difference to supermarkets selling drink for pocket-money prices, claimed Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon. She argued that in contrast to the minimum pricing sought by the SNP, the alcohol duty rise would scarcely touch cheap white ciders and vodkas, but would mean a big increase in the price of products like premium whisky - Press Association​

Britons were told today to brace themselves for snow this week as below-freezing temperatures left the country shivering over the weekend. Gritters are on high alert after the bitterly-cold weather is set to stay - with rain predicted to turn to snowfall in parts of the UK by Thursday - Daily Mail​