'Coastal towns have highest levels of bankruptcies'

Britain's coastal towns suffer from the highest level of bankruptcies as the decline in shipbuilding, fishing and seaside tourism takes its toll amid the recession. Experts said that particularly with tourism reliant on the weather it caused many businesses to struggle with cash flows. Hull has the highest rate, with 26.6 bankruptcies per 10,000 adults, while Plymouth follows closely behind with 26 and Poole has 22.4 - The Telegraph​

The number of penalty points to be issued for lower-level breaches of the proposed new drink-driving legislation in Ireland is expected to be lower than originally planned, in order to persuade Fianna Fáil backbenchers to back the Road Traffic Bill. A spokeswoman for Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey did not deny reports yesterday that the penalty point sanctions would be reduced. She said he was determined to have the blood alcohol content (Bac) limit reduced from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood, and to 20mg for inexperienced and professional drivers - Irish Times​

A minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol should be introduced, according to directors of public health in the north west of England. In a letter to The Times signed by 19, they write: "We believe that the time has come for effective action to stop the irresponsible sale of cut-price alcohol by the off-trade. 'We urge the government to take decisive action by bringing forward legislation to introduce a minimum price per unit for alcohol of 50p per unit.' - The Times​

Hampshire landlords leading a so-called revolution against the companies that own tens of thousands of Britain's pubs are being backed by Daily Echo readers. Some 93 per cent of readers support the trio of landlords - two from Southampton and one from Portsmouth - who plan a drastic campaign to make the pub companies bust. Called Pub Revolution, the group has already signed up 2,000 landlords for its "beercott", where landlords all stop buying their beer from the companies on a set day - Daily Echo​