Mexican rave

Corona Extra has surged ahead of Sol to become the UK's top imported Mexican beer. According to research by AC Nielsen, Corona Extra is now ranked 14th in the list of top-selling premium-packaged lagers for the year ending July 2002. It achieved this by recording the largest percentage increase in sales volumes over the year of all the 15 PPLs including in the list. Figures for June and July 2002 were even more impressive and pushed Corona into 10th position in the top-selling list. Aberdeen problems Restaurant chain Aberdeen Steak Houses has appointed BDO Stoy Hayward as its administrator. The restaurant group, which has 30 sites in London, suffered losses after the slump in visitor numbers and the BSE health scare. It is believed that a venture capitalist has expressed an interest in taking over its sites. Other possibilities include a sale of individual sites or a rescue by owner Ali Salih. Cider with Toady A total of 35 staff from Eldridge Pope's Toad at the Warehouse, in Taunton, beat 20 other Toads from around the country to gain the highest percentage increase in sales of Dry Blackthorn cider in a competition organised in conjunction with Matthew Clark. Manager Jon Barclay and his team scored a 59.9% increase in sales. OAP drinks concern More than one million pensioners are drinking too much, according to a report by Alcohol Concern. Researchers found a 75% increase in the problem among women over 65 in the past 10 years. Alcohol Concern warned that heavy drinking could make pensioners even more vulnerable to accidents and falls. Bogus spirits fine A St Albans licensee has been fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs over £2,300 for selling bogus spirits. Bill Ferncombe, who runs the Cross Keys Pub in the town's Lower Street, was found guilty by St Albans magistrates of selling sub-standard whiskey and vodka. Ferncombe, who denied the charges, said he bought all the spirits from a cash-and-carry and delivered them to the Cross Keys himself. He said he had no idea how the suspect drinks went on sale in his pub. 100 up for ALMR The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has signed up its 100th member ­ County Estates Management. Recent recruits include: Blenheim Inns, Capital Pub Company, Therapy Leisure, Porter Black Holdings and Balaclava Pub Company. ALMR chief executive Nick Bish said: "The addition of County Estates increases the ALMR's critical mass and gives us greater clout when talking to key influencers.