Hundreds of crisis-hit pubs could be bailed out by council tax payers as grants of up to £20,000 are made available from local councils under the Sustainable Communities Act, which becomes law this week. To qualify for a handout, they will have to turn themselves into post offices, shops, libraries or internet cafes as well as serving drinks. The new "People's Pubs" could even supply school dinners under local Government Minister Hazel Blears' plan. Councils including Sheffield, Suffolk, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire and Cheshire are already investigating the scheme. Campaign for Real Ale chief executive Mike Benner said: "This law could not have come at a more crucial time." - Sunday Mirror
A pub landlady who could not make war veteran customers smoke outside may have to close after being hit with a £1,000 fine. Kathleen Hall, 55, who runs the Welcome Inn in Bradford, felt it was disrespectful to ask the elderly heroes to stub out their cigs in her bar - and they ignored her when she did. But it led to her being hauled before magistrates last week under the no smoking laws. Kathleen said: "Someone who fought in world wars does not want to go outside for a fag. And the pub is on the second floor. It's mostly old people who smoke and they think they should be allowed to." The cash-strapped mum-of-one hopes regulars will have a whip round to pay the fine. - Sunday People
"A recent survey found that 61 per cent of 10,000 customers questioned were against minimum pricing [for alcohol]. Come off it! Who wanted to wear seat-belts? We were educated about the benefits, warned about the hazards by repetitive advertising, but did we conform? Not until a law was passed that has saved lives." - Catherine Lawson, chairman, Tayside Alcohol Problem Service Clients Councils, writing in Scotland on Sunday
Millions of milk cartons are to carry alcohol safety tips for the first time as part of a campaign to prevent restrictions on drinks sales in supermarkets. Asda is to print alcohol awareness and safety messages on more than three million milk cartons in Scotland during the Christmas and Hogmanay party season. The aim is to get the alcohol safety message into homes, schools, offices and other workplaces where it would not normally be seen. - Scotland on Sunday