A North American brewing giant and small regional UK brewer have emerged as the front-runners to buy beer brand Bass in this country .It is believed brewing major Molson Coors and Well's & Young's, based in Bedford in England, are favourites to land Bass as current owner Anheuser-Busch Inbev is understood to be considering a sale to want to focus instead on its premium lager portfolio, which includes Stella Artois, Beck's and Budweiser. It declined to comment on what it called "market speculation" about a potential sale - The Scotsman
Ministers are to review the smoking ban amid claims it is crippling Britain's £6billiona-year pub and bingo industry. Around 130 bingo halls - 20 per cent - have closed in the three years since the ban in 2007. Thirty-nine pubs go bust a week.The Government has ordered a review of anti-smoking laws this autumn - The Mirror
The birthplace of Tony Blair's New Labour is to shut - after being forced out of business by the economic crash and the former Prime Minister's own smoking ban. Trimdon Labour Club, where Mr Blair announced his decision to stand for party leader in 1994 and his resignation as PM in 2007, will close at the end of next month due to a lack of customers. Last night a spokesman for Mr Blair declined to be drawn on whether he would dip into his estimated £15 million fortune to save his old haunt, although his former agent said the ex-PM had 'been in touch' about the club's problems - Mail on Sunday
Tesco has emerged as the only supermarket to be 'caught' pricing its alcohol below cost since calling on the Government to outlaw the practice only a month ago. According to research compiled for Financial Mail, the supermarket sold Stella Artois lager at 6p below the cost of tax and excise duty alone, the day after saying below-cost sales should be banned. It was also selling 24 cans for £10 in a promotion the weekend before it made its plea, according to market research firm Assosia - Daily Mail
Opposition leaders have launched an attempt to find alternatives to the SNP's flagship minimum unit price plan for alcohol.The parties have signed a letter to Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, calling on her to "focus on the common ground", two weeks after MSPs voted against the policy in principle.Ministers intend to push ahead with the plan because the vote was non-binding. Ms Sturgeon said she would offer to meet opposition leaders - BBC
Doctors are calling for an alcohol ban on all public transport, including intercity trains and cross-Channel ferries, in an attempt to stop drunks annoying fellow passengers.They want the rest of the UK to follow the example set by London mayor Boris Johnson, who in 2008 outlawed drinking on all forms of public transport in the capital.This week's annual conference of the British Medical Association will debate calls for an extension of efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm - The Observer
South African brewery chiefs have mobilised a fleet of emergency pre-chilled beer trucks to ensure fans don't drink Bloemfontein dry.Managers at South African Breweries have also set up a crisis line for landlords in the city who fear they may be about to run out of lager. The special measures were put in place after experts predicted the arrival of around 25,000 England fans and 10,000 rival German supporters could make Sunday's game the booziest World Cup clash yet - The Mirror