'Health boards 'should have licensing powers like police''

Health boards will be given powers to object to any drinks licence under Government plans to enhance Scotland's crusade against the damaging impact of alcohol. In his keynote speech at the country's leading conference on alcohol, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will today spell out how the Government expects to finally give teeth to Scotland's licensing system, which seeks to protect public health. Key among the recommendations is the proposal to put health boards on a footing with the police in notifying them of all licensing applications - The Herald ​

Family-owned brewing and hospitality business SA Brain & Co has agreed a new £20m expansion funding line with Lloyds corporate markets. The company operates some 260 pubs, bars and hotels across Wales and the West of England. The deal with Lloyds TSB will provide a revolving credit facility to enable the company to take advantage of the stabilising pub market and increase its portfolio of eating and drinking establishments - Western Mail​

Foster's Group Ltd, Australia's largest brewer, knocked back an offer worth up to $2.5 billion for its wine business as too cheap, but the approach could flush out offers for the entire group. The bid by an unidentified private equity company for the world's second-largest wine business pushed Foster's shares up 6 percent on hopes of better offers. Investors also speculated that suitors for the combined group, which has a market value of about $11 billion, might now step forward - Reuters​

A former pub landlord who was caught with thousands of pounds worth of cocaine stashed in his bar has been forced to hand over £20,000 under proceeds of crime laws. John Mackay, 40, was jailed for 18 months after admitting drug-dealing charges following a police raid on The Gauntlet Bar in Broomhouse Market. He today claimed that he "took the rap" for drug dealers who had turned his pub's snooker room into their base - The Scotsman​