'Poll backs drink-drive limit cut'

Four out of five people back a cut in the drink-drive limit, a survey has found. The Scottish government-commissioned research found that 79 per cent of those quizzed want to see the current drink-drive limit reduced from 80 mg per 100 ml of blood to 50 mg. The recent annual festive crackdown by police saw nearly 500 arrests, although the figures have been falling over the past two years. - Press Association​

Pub beer sales slumped 40 per cent as the big freeze kept drinkers away. An industry analyst said: "It shows just how severe an effect two weeks of snow can have on sales." It capped already tough times for suffering landlords - for despite cut-price offers on food and booze, drinkers downed four million fewer pints a week between October and December - before the worst of the winter weather battered Britain. And just to pile on even more agony for pubs - already closing down at a rate of about 50 a week - January 1's VAT return from 15 per cent to 17.5 per cent added another 6p to 10p to the average price of a pint. - Sunday Mirror​

In this phoney booze war politicians have plenty of policies, but they're toothless. The Tories want to levy a charge on late-night off-licences and bars and say they'll tax "problem" drinks such as alcopops, strong beers and ciders. Labour promises to ban promotions offering cheap booze and say pubs should offer free tap water. Talk about not facing up to the gruesome reality. Iain Duncan Smith is the only leading Tory to advocate increasing the price of alcohol, to fund treatment for its abuse. The Lib Dems remain the only party to back a minimum price per unit of alcohol, and a ban on advertising and sponsorship. - Janet Street-Porter writing in the Independent on Sunday​

Yet another report, this time from the Health Select Committee, raises concerns about the "shocking" increase in binge drinking and alcoholism in Britain… Way back in November 2005, as the government was planning to introduce its batty proposals for extended licensing hours, I provided the following warning in this column: "Could someone please explain to me the logic behind the Government encouraging people to drink for longer? We already have the worst drink abuse culture in the world. Extending opening hours will simply make matters worse." I really do not want to have to say to the powers-that-be that I told you so but ... Eamonn Holmes writing in the Sunday People​

Joe Lewis, the activist shareholder engaged in a bloody battle with the board of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has called on the pub company to throw out its banking advisers, focus on driving profits and increase disclosure. Robert McGuire, who represents Lewis's investment vehicle Piedmont, issued the demands ahead of what is expected to be an explosive AGM at M&B this week. McGuire called into question the "motivations and judgment" of Adam Fowle, M&B's chief executive, in the wake of the shareholder row and suggested the pub boss would be under pressure to perform in the coming months. - Daily Telegraph​

Lighting up at a drinks party is a bit like standing there masturbating. One chap I know has an electric cigarette. Sucking on it delivers a hit of nicotine and causes the tip to glow red. It's like the real thing in the same way that a blow-up doll is like Scarlett Johansson but he always brings it out at parties and waves it around because it looks realistic and tricks other smokers in the room into feeling that if they go ahead, they won't be the first. - Jeremy Clarkson writing in the Sunday Times​