'Illegal booze chemist jailed'

A disgraced chemist was behind bars last night for operating an illegal moonshine distillery which made him a staggering £10 million. Mridyul Das churned out crates of cheap bootleg Vodka and whisky from a warehouse. The enterprising criminal then flogged the illegal booze at car boot sales, market stalls, shops and clubs. Customs officers established he had made a whopping £10,122,993 - and his secret brewery enabled him to lead a life of luxury - The Sun​

A planned crackdown on cheap alcohol will not work unless supermarkets are stopped from selling it below cost price, a senior Labour MP has said. Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs committee, called on the government to bring in a minimum price for alcohol in supermarkets to tackle binge drinking. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the government held off from such a move over fears it would harm the economy - BBC News​

Pubs group Marston's reported a 13 per cent slide in profits and slammed this year's alcohol tax hikes as an "unwelcome" threat to the UK pub industry. The Pitcher & Piano and Two for One owner said it faced a difficult year ahead, with the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report alcohol tax grab posing "significant challenges" - Press Association​

A campaign to promote sensible drinking is getting underway in part of Kent in a bid to reduce crashes, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence. The "Just the One" campaign is being launched in Tonbridge. Posters will show a series of messages such as "just the one life", "just the one chance to make a first impression" and "just one for the road" - BBC News​

Complaints by sports fans have led officials at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to review its policy of selling alcohol during rugby matches. Supporters complained their view of the game was being obstructed by people going to the bar, and then the toilets. When the stadium opened nine years ago, no alcohol was sold during matches - BBC News​