'Cost of alcohol will double to curb binge drinking'

A radical government scheme could see the starting cost of drinks fixed at between 40p and 50p per alcoholic unit. The crackdown will mark the culmination of a scheme, overseen by Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary. "There is rising public concern and we have never shrunk from taking tough public health decisions and we are not going to start now," he said. "We need to balance the rights of people who drink responsibly with those who buy ludicrously cheap booze and go out and harm themselves and others." - The Telegraph​

Legendary London music venue The Half Moon pub in Putney has been saved from closure. 20,000 people added their name to an online petition to save the venue. Among them were long-time fans who had witnessed the likes of Elvis Costello, Nick Cave and The Jam perform on the small stage. The public outcry succeeded, convincing Young's to reconsider after settling the issue of debts with the current tenant James Harris. - Sky News​

Comedians are fronting a new advertising campaign urging parents to warn their children about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol. The comics, including Bill Bailey and Jo Brand, say there is huge pressure on teenagers to get drunk - BBC​

Former government chief drugs advisor Professor David Nutt will be giving lectures and setting up an independent council on drug harms to provide an unbiased scientific perspective on drugs, including alcohol and tobacco - The Metro​

Shops in Belgium are set to run out of Stella Artois, Leffe and Jupiler brands in the coming days, as workers blockade three breweries in Belgium owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev after announcing plans to make about 10% of its staff in Western Europe redundant - The Telegraph​