'Violent "ladettes" fuelled by booze sessions'

"Violent attacks by binge-drinking teenage girls have risen by nearly 300 per cent in seven years in a frightening wave of 'ladette' violence. The extraordinary turnaround in teenage lawlessness emerges in figures that have been obtained by the highly respected Youth Justice Board. It claims that new research suggests the number of violent offences against the person carried out by girls aged between ten and 17 has increased from 6,000 in 2001 to almost 23,000 last year. Alcohol is one of the main factors: approximately one in three girls aged 15 to 16 admits that she binge-drinks." - Mail On Sunday​

"A masterplan to beat Scotland's £2.25billion booze problem will be unveiled tomorrow (Monday). Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill is set to increase the age limit for off-sales to 21 as part of a package of measures. Other plans include a ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals and a "polluter pays" tax on stores, who will be forced to pay for policing and health costs caused by alcohol abuse. Minimum prices on alcohol off-sales could also be imposed, as well as restrictions on where alcohol can be sold in shops." - Daily Record​

"This week, the SNP Government will present its alcohol strategy to the Holyrood parliament in the full knowledge that much of it will not survive the parliamentary process. Kenny MacAskill and Nicola Sturgeon, the two ministers responsible, have failed to create the political or public consensus required. It is a missed opportunity. The Nationalists deserve credit for taking on a problem that lies at the heart of so many of Scotland's ills - especially violence and poor health. Scotland will never fulfil its potential as a nation while it is thirled to the bottle. Yet the SNP has allowed alcohol to become just another test of the Scottish Government's political virility." - Scotland On Sunday​

"Tens of thousands of private-sector workers are also likely to see their earnings slashed. Several professional firms have reduced salaries by 20 per cent by putting employees on a four-day week. Punch Taverns, one of the largest pub groups, has put wages on hold for all workers except pub service staff. Falling inflation and rising unemployment have made it easier for firms to impose pay freezes and cuts. Inflation measured by the retail prices index dropped to just 0.1 per cent in January and is set to fall into negative territory when the February figures are released this month." - Sunday Times​

And finally…

"Binge drinking is a huge problem among some of Britain's most prestigious orchestras with players regularly performing drunk, musicians have warned. Bill Kerr, the orchestral organiser of the Musicians' Union, said there had been 'regrettable incidents' involving alcohol and musicians drinking to overcome boredom and pre-performance nerves. Speaking at the Association of British Orchestras' annual conference, he said musicians drank because they had few other distractions while waiting for performances, ranging from a pint to steady the nerves to full-blown inebriation on stage. - Scotland On Sunday​