New pubs and off licences could be banned in parts of Scotland's biggest city in a bid to cut alcohol-fuelled violence. Authorities in the city - which has 568 pubs and clubs - say seven areas have reached saturation point for boozers. Districts which could be affected by the freeze include the West End's Byres Road, Sauchiehall Street and the Saltmarket - which between them had 1,139 crimes last year - The Sun
Bargain basement pubs were snapped up at auction for as little as £40,000 yesterday. The 13-pub sale saw more than 100 prospective property developers and landlords squeeze into the Village Leisure Hotel, in Coryton, Cardiff. Tina Payne was over the moon at picking up the Gateway, in Porth for just £40,000. It had a guide price of £60,000. She now plans to come home from Spain, where she runs a bar called Neptune's, to run her new pub. She plans to rename it Rumours - Wales Online
Alcohol and binge-drinking could be contributing to Wales' obesity epidemic as drinkers consume a tenth of their calories in a night's session. But experts today say Welsh adults are as unaware of the calorie content of the alcoholic drinks as they are about the amount of units they contain. Research by Alcohol Concern has found that 82% of drinkers didn't know how many calories were in a standard pint of beer or lager or glass of wine - Wales Online
The owner of one of Edinburgh's most iconic pubs said today he had been left struggling to survive after his business rates bill quadrupled. Steve Whiting, who owns the Halfway House on Fleshmarket Close, saw his annual bill soar from less than £2000 to more than £8000 under the controversial review of rates. The 55-year-old said he had been forced to lay off a barmaid as a result of the "horrendous" hike, as well as taking on an extra 15 hours per week himself in an effort to lessen the blow - The Scotsman
Black rice - revered in ancient China but overlooked in the West - could be the greatest 'superfoods', scientists revealed today. The cereal is low in sugar but packed with healthy fibre and plant compounds that combat heart disease and cancer, say experts - Daily Mail