The plight of Britain's pubs has alarmed so many Labour MPs that no fewer than four ministers have agreed to separate talks with industry leaders to discuss what to do about closures and falling trade - Financial Times
Setanta has captured the rights to almost two-thirds of Guinness Premiership rugby fixtures being broadcast from season 2010-11, demonstrating its continued commitment to compete for sports properties - The Guardian
Pubs group Punch Taverns fell as low as 48p - from 61.5p - after a negative note from analysts at Redburn Partners, which in effect said the shares were worthless. But the Punch PR machine sprang into action and Redburn admitted one of its main conclusions about Punch debt - tied up in complex securitisation vehicles - was erroneous - The Guardian
Global brewer SABMiller said it would launch a new lager in south Sudan, the first beer produced there since Islamic law shut down the region's last brewery 25 years ago. Alcohol was banned after the Khartoum-based government brought in Sharia law in 1983 - The Scotsman
Two in five kids will be allowed to drink booze with their parents at Christmas, a poll revealed yesterday - The Mirror
A son has fulfilled his landlord dad's dying wish to have his ashes buried — in the bar. Jack Woodward's remains now lie beneath a flagstone with a plaque reading: "Stand here and have a drink on me." He had worked in the 17th-century Boat Inn since he was 14 and lived there until three weeks before his death in May, aged 83 - The Sun
Eight members of a rare Indian hunting tribe numbering around 100 have died after drinking a toxic liquid they mistook for alcohol - The Daily Telegraph