'Heineken and Carlsberg see contrasting fortunes'

Dutch brewing giant Heineken has forecast lower beer consumption in many regions this year as it reported a drop in sales volumes in 2009. Beer volumes fell 1.5% last year, but revenues increased 2.7% to 14.7bn euros ($20bn; £12.9bn) thanks to price rises. Carlsberg reported a 38% rise in profit to 3.6bn Danish Kroner ($660m; £425m) in 2009, driven by strong performances in Eastern Europe and Asia. The group's beer volumes increased 6%, although currency fluctuations meant revenues fell 1% - BBC ​

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the UK government to scrap its plans to raise beer taxes and save 7,500 jobs in the process. Beer tax is due to increase by 2% above inflation in the Budget in March, and has risen by 20% since 2008, according to the BBPA - BBC​

Cigarette smoke really gets up the nation's nose - it is voted Top of the Pongs in a survey out today. In second place is the aroma of stale alcohol, leading Space Air Solutions, who did the poll, to suggest that the smoking ban may have led to more smoking and boozing in the home - Mirror​

A government proposal to charge people with fixed phone lines 50p per month to help fund ultra-fast broadband has been condemned as "unfair" by MPs. The cross-party Business Innovation and Skills Committee said most of those who would pay the tax would not benefit from the faster broadband service - BBC ​

The Foreign Office's advises 'Alcohol can affect you more quickly at high altitude and limit your awareness of danger and cold. Your reactions are slower, reckless behaviour can lead to crime, alcohol abuse can simply ruin your holiday.' The campaign was recently launched after a Government study found that, every year, around a third of British skiers and snowboarders aged under 25 are involved in accidents caused by a mixture of 'alcohol, altitude and adrenaline' - Daily Mail​

Some 14,000 bottles of a brand called Rosecco that were due to end up on the shelves of Marks & Spencer have been seized by the Italian authorities, who say the name could mislead customers - Daily Mail​