More than 10 million people in England are drinking too much, with around one in four adults consuming alcohol at "hazardous" levels, according to a Government watchdog. The level has been blamed on a trend towards stronger drinks and larger glasses in recent years, especially among wine drinkers - The Daily Telegraph
A glass of wine or half a pint of beer should put motorists over the legal limit, say MPs. An influential Commons group has given powerful backing to calls for a drastic cut in the amount of alcohol drivers could drink. The Transport Select Committee said there was a 'growing consensus' that the legal limit should fall from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to just 50mg - The Daily Mail
Ghost-hunters have come up with a Top Ten of Britain's most haunted pubs for Hallowe'en. Paranormal group Spooky Stuff say boozers are the best place for a late-night vigil to spot a spectre. Most haunted is The Grenadier, in London's Belgravia, where one of Wellington's soldiers was beaten to death after cheating at cards - The Sun
The controversial Carnage pub crawl, organised by Birmingham-based Carnage UK, boldly went ahead — despite efforts to ban it from Scotland's cities - The Sun
Derry City Council has voted to extend its ban on drinking in public places. At a meeting on Tuesday, councillors decided to widen current bye-laws which already make it illegal to drink in many areas in the city centre. The Council has yet to decide which additional areas will be designated alcohol-free zones. It cannot legally impose a blanket ban - BBC News
Beer sales may be falling across the board but one emerging microbrewery hopes the patron saint of Glasgow could become the unlikely saviour of the nation's drinking habits. The West Brewery in Glasgow, has produced the St Mungo lager in homage to the saint, whose brotherhood used to brew their own beer and serve the "liquid bread" to the poor and sickly people of the Clydeside community - The Herald
A retired soldier likened to the irascible BBC sitcom character Victor Meldrew has been banned from his local pub's meals-on-wheels service for making too many complaints about the food. Stan Lee, 94, a former corporal in the Devonshire Regiment during the Second World War, has been told he can no longer receive his Sunday lunch at home. The widower paid £4.50 a week for the meal which was cooked and delivered by staff at the Racehorse Inn, in Tiverton, Devon - The Daily Telegraph