'Million jobs depend on pub trade'

Almost a million jobs depend on the beer and pub trade, an industry which adds more than £21 billion to the UK economy, with the fourth highest number of workers in London, figures show. The British Beer and Pub Association said the study would fuel concerns about the effect of increases in beer taxes in next month's Budget. The region with the biggest number of workers in the sector is the South East (128,000), followed by the North West (118,000), West Midlands (101,000) and London (97,400), according to the report - Press Association ​

Medical practices have come under fire for allowing advertising from pubs, hypnotherapists and funeral parlours on their websites and appointment cards. Many GP surgeries include adverts to meet the costs of the cards and websites, but critics say the practice is inappropriate and suggests that the doctors are endorsing the advertisers. In many cases, the surgeries use intermediaries who sell advertising on appointment cards to businesses and then provide the cards free to surgeries - The Scotsman​

Up to a quarter of licensed premises in some parts of the UK have been found to have counterfeit alcohol for sale. And Trading Standards officials, who carry out spot checks, say it is a growing problem.Trade sources say fake alcohol is being made by organised gangs on an industrial scale - BBC​

A pub in central London has been named national pub of the year by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). The Harp in Covent Garden was described as a "true gem" which was a "small, friendly, independent free house which has become a haven for beer choice". Taps in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, was featured as one of the three runners-up, as well as the Salutation Inn, in Ham, Gloucestershire - BBC​

Calorie counts on menus do not make diners eat less, research suggests. Taste, price and location were all more important. The research was done in New York, where the display of calorie counts on menus in fast food restaurants is mandatory, but the study raises questions about the value of similar voluntary schemes in the UK - Daily Mail ​