'UK is the binge-drink capital of Europe: Statistic shows the failure of 24-hour opening'

British revellers drink more alcohol than anyone else in Europe, a survey reveals. The disturbing findings expose the massive failure of the introduction of 24-hour drinking five years ago. Ministers predicted new relaxed licensing laws would create a European-style 'cafe culture'. Instead, they turned town centres into no-go areas on Friday and Saturday nights - Daily Mail​

The UK's biggest pubs company, Punch Taverns, has reported a fall in profits after having spent £2m a month to help support struggling tenants. It reported a profit of £3.9m for the six months to 6 March. Excluding one-off costs, profits fell 20% from the same period last year to £66m - BBC News​

Britain's biggest tenanted pub operators, including Punch and rival Enterprise Inns, have come under fire from their tenants, MPs and industry body the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) over the beer tie, the practice of charging above-market rates for beer in exchange for lower rents. Its detractors say the tie is unfair and forces tenants out of business - The Telegraph​

Drinking alcohol speeds up the ageing process and raises the risk of cancer, a study finds. Researchers have found that drinking damages part of the cells that are linked to premature ageing and cancer. They discovered that it causes stress and inflammation to telomeres - the ends of DNA strands that stop them unravelling much like the ends of shoelaces - Daily Telegraph​

The drunken, loutish behaviour of some of our sporting heroes has little or no effect on young people, new research claims. Researchers say their findings - published in Drug and Alcohol Review - rubbish the idea that sports stars act as role models for those who follow sport - The Telegraph​