'Wealthy middle-aged people are the biggest drinkers'

Middle-aged people who are on high incomes are the most likely to drink five or more nights a week. A survey conducted by the NHS Information Centre shows that 30 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women in the highest earning bracket admitted that they had drunk alcohol five nights or more in the previous week, twice as much as in the lowest wage bracket - The Daily Telegraph​

The North West tops a league table of places most affected by excessive drinking, according to a new report. Overall, seven out of the top 10 areas in England with the greatest level of harm in 2006/07 were in the North West - The Press Association​

In a fresh sign of the malaise infecting the nightclubs and pubs sector, Premium Bars & Restaurants yesterday admitted it has failed to win the backing of its lenders. It has not reached an agreement to renew its debt facilities and its banks have told the company to find the necessary funds to cover costs itself. Premium's board is now in talks with major shareholders to persuade them to stump up the cash - The Daily Mail​

Unite, the union, criticised the announcement by Scottish & Newcastle, part of Heineken, that 54 jobs will be lost at the Bulmers bottling plant in Hereford when S&N moves the bottling process to its brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire - The Times​

Few people know and understand the government's guidelines on healthy eating, smoking and drinking despite the millions of pounds spent on awareness campaigns, it emerged yesterday. Data from the annual Health Survey for England revealed less than a third of men and women knew the maximum amount of alcohol they should drink a day - The Guardian​

Guy Ritchie will receive almost £50 million in cash and property in what may be the largest divorce settlement paid to a man, a spokeswoman for his former wife, Madonna, said last night. This includes the couple's country home, Ashcombe House, in Wiltshire. worth an estimated £10 million to £12 million, and their West London pub, the Punchbowl, which they bought for £2.5 million - The Daily Telegraph ​