'Stay sober or go back to prison'

A scheme where convicted criminals commit to stay sober or face prison could be introduced in Britain, it has been suggested. The "24/7 sobriety" programme involves people paying to be tested for alcohol twice a day after being convicted of drink-related crime, and appearing in court to face the prospect of custody if they test positive. It has already been implemented in the US, with the state of South Dakota reporting a 14% drop in the prison population as a result - The Press Association​

Millions of workers will be automatically enrolled in their company pension scheme after ministers gave the go-ahead to a radical new system drawn up by Labour. Steve Webb, the pensions minister, today announced that following a review of the plans, first proposed under Gordon Brown, the coalition is going ahead with "auto-enrolment" from 2012. Firms with more than 50 employees will be required to provide a company scheme - The Telegraph​

Manager Gérard Houllier has warned his Aston Villa players there is no place for nightclubs and alcohol in a modern footballer's life. Houllier was well known for his no-nonsense attitude to players and their private lives while Liverpool manager between 1998 and 2004. He has impressed upon his young Villa players a similar message, saying they must dedicate themselves entirely to football if they want to succeed. "If you go off the track, with booze and nightclubs, you can imagine what happens," he said - The Telegraph​

Sainsbury's is the latest supermarket to cross swords with police over alcohol sales in Cambridge city centre. The grocer wants to open a store in St Andrew's Street, and has applied for permission to sell alcohol between 7am and 11pm daily. But officers - who recently challenged requests from Waitrose and Tesco with varying success - warn this could trigger a rise in drink-fuelled disorder. The proposed outlet is in a cumulative impact zone - Cambridge News​