'By buying S&N has Carlsberg bitten off more than it can chew?'

Despite completing its acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) this week, over the next few years Carlsberg looks vulnerable. Rising interest rates will hurt, despite strong cashflow, while market share and profit in Russia will have to be defended. Meanwhile, beer consumption in Western Europe will continue to fall, demanding fewer and more effective breweries and more focus on distribution. New possibilities will come up in Asia - especially in China. The question is whether Carlsberg has the financial power and smarts to keep up with the competitors. The funeral of S&N is also the baptism of Carlsberg as a global player. Until it grows to robust maturity, its survival in the big league remains in doubt. - Sunday Herald​

A Scottish brewery plucked from liquidation two years ago has marked its turnaround with a string of overseas deals and a contract to supply 320 branches of the Nisa convenience store chain in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Bridge of Allan brewery went bust in 2005, blaming over-ambitious expansion plans, but was rescued by Scottish entrepreneur and Stiffy Shots alcopops brand owner Graham Coull for an undisclosed sum. Coull rebranded the brewery Traditional Scottish Ales and has since reversed its fortunes. In its first 12 months to the end of February 2007 it achieved a turnover of £300,000 and Coull says it will touch £500,000 in the past year. - Scotland On Sunday​

Coleen McLoughlin has banned beer from her wedding to Manchester United star Wayne Rooney because it's "too vulgar". The pair will wed on June 14 at Castello Brown near Portofino in Italy. Some members of the families do not get on and Coleen's 18th birthday party had to be halted when a fight broke out between drunken relatives. - Sunday Mirror​