'Is beauty really in the eye of the beer holder'

Alcohol has no effect on men's judgement, say researchers. For generations, young males have been explaining to friends that their odd choice of female company was down to alcohol. According to the latest research, however, they have only themselves to blame. Fallacy: Woman do not appear any prettier to men who have been drinking, despite the 'beer goggles' theory. Beer goggles are a fallacy and women actually seem no prettier after drinking, a study suggests - The Daily Mail​

Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, has been urged to scrap plans to increase the tax on beer by two per cent above the rate of inflation. The British Beer and Pub Association labelled the increase as "socially, economically and politically" wrong at a time when dozens of pubs are closing every week. Mr Darling plans to impose a 'taxation escalator', increasing the amount levied in each of the next four years - The Telegraph​

The Treasury faces a shortfall of £242 million in tax revenue because of pub closures since the last Budget, and should scrap its planned duty increase in the Budget on Wednesday, the British Beer & Pub Association said - The Times​

Alistair Darling was accused of dangerous over-optimism today as he prepared to make a Budget prediction that the recovery will start by Christmas. The Chancellor is expected to forecast economic growth of one per cent in 2010, following a crash of 3.5 per cent this year - The Daily Mail ​

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg took time out from his conference visit to visit a threatened Victorian pub. The Vulcan Hotel in Adamsdown, Cardiff, is set to make way for a multi-storey car park, retail units and apartments. Campaigners have called for heritage body Cadw to list the building and sent a 5,000-name petition to the assembly. Mr Clegg said: "It's an important part of Cardiff's history, and with its tiled frontage and original features, it is an asset to the city centre." - BBC​

Carlsberg: The Danish brewer's Norwegian business, Ringnes, is to sell its brewery in Arendal to local investors as part of its cost-cutting programme.Ringnes will keep a 20 per cent stake in the brewery - The Times​