What the Sunday papers said
JD Wetherspoon is to put TV screens into all its 600-plus pubs, but the decision is not a move to protect sales during the World Cup. Chief executive John Hutson said the fit-out was a response to the new regime of extended hours. "It's just an extra facility," he said. Wetherspoon pub managers would be consulted about showing the tournament, which begins in June, in the coming months. - Independent On Sunday
Jazz singer Jamie Cullum is to lead a revolt against the government's licensing laws which have seen the scrapping of the 'two in a bar' rule, whereby a pub could put on a concert by two musicians and not have to apply for a special licence. The 26 year old artist is to hold an 'illegal' gig where he and a musician friend will perform in a bar which is not licensed to play music. Cullum and others fear the new rules will see an end to small scale gigs in bars and pubs - which can be a launchpad for up and coming performers - since licensees face fines of £20,000 if they fail to hold the correct paperwork, which itself costs in the region of £1,000. - Mail On Sunday
The last 30 British family brewers are resisting being swallowed up by rivals but are nevertheless facing growing pressure as consolidation sweeps the industry. While some, such as Kent's Shepherd Neame, are thriving, others may be considering selling up now rather than wait for the market to change in favour of buyers. - Sunday Times
SABMiller investors should not take recent quarterly figures from the brewing giant badly. The group recently report bad weather had hit beer sales in some markets. But it has established itself in a number of growing markets, notably Central America, which should mitigate the tough times it is experiencing in the US and elsewhere. - The Business
And finally...
The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, believes identity cards should be made compulsory for people who don't have a passport. He told an audience on BBC Radio 4's 'Any Questions' that "unless there was compulsion there were no benefits". "Is it right to compel those that don't have a passport also to get an ID card? I think it is." - Sunday Telegraph
