'Cig vending machine ban moves closer'

New laws that would ban the display of tobacco in Scottish shops have passed their first parliamentary hurdle. MSPs yesterday voted through the first stage of a new public health bill that would also see cigarette vending machines banned. The Scottish Government says the bill is needed to help prevent children from taking up smoking - The Scotsman​

Campaigners against laws which allow employers to force their staff to retire when they turn 65 will today find out if they have been successful in their bid to have the legislation scrapped - The Guardian ​

A jail has removed alcoholic hand gel meant to combat swine flu after inmates got drunk on it. Dispensers containing the liquid cleanser were installed to protect lags against contamination - The Sun ​

Punch Taverns, Britain's biggest pub landlord, has put another 300 of its worst-performing sites up for sale. The company, which set up a "turnaround" division for struggling bars earlier this year, has asked property agent Christie to drum up interest in the sites, some of which have already been on the market - Daily Telegraph ​

Luminar, the UK's largest nightclub owner, issued a stark profit warning today, after rising job losses among young people put a dampener on party spirits. The company, which is responsible for the Liquid and Oceana chains, warned that there was a "significant risk" it would not meet full-year profit expectations in February 2010, after half-year sales fell 5.9 per cent in the 26 weeks to August 27 compared with the same period last year - The Times ​