'Health campaigners condemn Luminar's 80p-a-drink plan'

A nightclub chain which has slashed the price of its drinks to 80p has been condemned as "irresponsible" by health campaigners. Pub and club giant Luminar Leisure has announced plans to sell booze at super-low prices to combat the credit crunch and competition from supermarkets. Stephen Thomas, chief executive of the company, said competition from supermarkets discounting their drinks had forced his hand: "We have a dilemma in trying to be responsible and trying to get people into our clubs." - Sunday Sun​

Scotland's publicans are angry at plans by InBev, the owners of Tennent Caledonian, to increase prices for the second time in four months. The move in September will put 3p on the price of a pint and could force some Scottish publicans out of business, according to Dan McGilvray, operations director of Alchemy Inns. "We had our normal annual increase in May of about £9 a barrel and now the same again," he said. "It is very unusual to see two price increases from a big brewer in such a short space of time. We are operating on very thin margins and I can't see the justification." - Sunday Times​

Irish government moves to clamp down on rising drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour, as well as improve public health, have been described as discriminatory y the local brewers' association. The government has proposed in its Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 that there should be a ban on beers and whiskies being on open display in the aisles of small to medium-sized shops. Yet an amendment to the act would allow customers to browse freely around displays of wine. The Irish Brewers Association (IBA) has accused the Department of Justice of discriminating against beer and spirits drinkers. The IBA confirmed this weekend that it is considering a legal challenge, saying it fears the ban would lead to job losses and shop closures. - Observer​

Beer sales may be down but one effect of the credit crunch, say some reports, is that Viagra sales are on the up as people whose sex lives have been blighted by financial worries look to the wonder drug to bring some respite. - Independent On Sunday​