'France ban on internet alcohol advertising hits industry'

French winemakers and other players in the international drinks industry are fighting to avert a ban on advertising, sales and even vineyard websites that has loomed ever since a court ruled that the internet should be included in France's strict laws regarding alcohol advertising. Heineken was forced by the ruling to block French access to its corporate website, and some of the biggest drinks brands have shut out French visitors for fear of prosecution - The Times​

A pub renamed the Adlington Arms in honour of double Olympic gold-medal swimmer Rebecca Adlington has gone back to its old name after less than a month. Staff at Yates's in Mansfield, Notts, claimed the change was short-term - The Mirror​

This week's collapse of Lehman Brothers has caused shares in the big pub-chain operators to increase. Lehman had a sizeable short position in the chains, selling shares it did not own, hoping it could buy them back cheaper further down the line. The pub operators have lost more than two-thirds of their value this year, suffering from the smoking ban, falling beer sales, cheap booze competition from the supermarkets and the credit crunch. Greene King leapt 41p to 583p, JD Wetherspoon was up by 15½p to 291p, and Whitbread, up 33p at 1079p. Enterprise Inns climbed 16½p to 218¾p after Goldman Sachs dropped the shares from its Pan European sell list - The Evening Standard​

A city centre pub has become the first in York to gain a 24-hour licence. Councillors granted Marc Allinson, the manager at the Artful Dodger pub, in Micklegate, the licence at a Guildhall hearing yesterday. Mr Allinson said the pub, which currently opens until 2am, will operate on a members-only basis between 2am and 8am. He said he wanted the flexibility to be able to open the premises later in order to cater for shift workers wanting to relax after work, especially those working in the pub and club trade - The York Press​

Pernod Ricard, the French drinks group that owns brands such as Jacob's Creek wine and Absolut Vodka, reported a one per cent increase in full-year profits to €840m (£664m) and said that it had been "an outstanding year" - The Times​