Forty-four million more bottles of wine are sold in pubs, supermarkets and off licenses than drinkers will admit to consuming, researchers at Liverpool John Moores University found. The team compared the amount that adults and teenagers believe they drink with official figures on alcohol sales. The report also calculates that to stay within the Government's recommended safe drinking levels overall consumption has to be cut by one third - Telegraph
Guy Ritchie has been forced to accept several licensing changes to his London pub The Punchbowl. The new requirements include customers not being allowed to drink outside after 8pm and smokers restricted to a certain area after that time. Staff also have to make hourly checks outside for glasses and litter. Despite this, Ritchie has revealed plans to open two pubs in the US, following the success of his London property - The Independent
A hard-hitting campaign that features a woman being attacked after taking an unlicensed minicab has prompted complaints that it blames women for such incidents. The campaign, which tells women to "Know what you're getting into", was launched earlier this month by Transport for London, to coincide with the alcohol-fuelled Christmas party season - The Guardian
The first pub has reopened in Cockermouth after floods devastated the town last month. Pub staff and brewery Enterprise Inns worked night and day to get the building in working order. The pub can now offer events over the Christmas period, but will shut again for refurbishment on 3rd January - Times and Star