"The government has shelved its promise to ban pubs and nightclubs from offering cut-price alcohol through events such as happy hours, even though Prime Minister Gordon Brown championed the move back in May as vital to tackle binge drinking. Plans for a tough new mandatory code on 'irresponsible' alcohol promotions before next year's general election have been delayed indefinitely by ministers. It was intended to end schemes such as drinking games, free alcohol for women and offers of unlimited alcohol for set sums, which critics claimed led to violence, accidents and rowdy behaviour." - Observer
"Supermarkets have been accused of encouraging binge drinking by continuing to sell alcohol more cheaply than bottled water. Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's are among those selling beer at just over 5p per 100ml. This contrasts with a typical price of about 8p for 100ml of brand-name mineral water. Campaigners claim such retailers are "irresponsible", using cheap alcohol to lure customers, while ignoring warnings from senior health figures that selling it at rock-bottom prices leads to more drinking." - Sunday Times
"Women in managerial and professional occupations were more likely to drink too much and too often, indulging at least once a week, they found. Researchers warn that as 'ladette' culture is on the wane there should be a new focus on career women, in particular those who drink large amounts at home. Doctors are increasingly concerned about professional women who drink too much alcohol, especially wine. Higher strength wines and larger glasses in recent years mean that many underestimate their alcohol intake, they warn." - Daily Telegraph
"Wine, whisky and beer cause more problems for drinkers the next day than beverages like vodka, a new study suggests. Researchers say that the problem lies in organic byproducts created by the fermenting process. Drinks which contain more of these compounds appear to produce worse hangovers, scientists found." - Sunday Telegraph