'North worst hit by booze'

Two thirds of the areas hit hardest by alcohol problems are in the North. A national booze map shows the extent of the North/South divide with men in Blackpool losing two years off their lives. Liverpool saw the most drinkers admitted to hospital in 2008/09 while the East and South East had least problems - Daily Mirror ​

More than 1,500 men and women are admitted to hospital every day because of alcohol, a report reveals. The figure is 65 per cent higher than only five years ago, while drinking is to blame for around 15,000 deaths a year. More than 400,000 brawls, burglaries, sexual assaults and other crimes are also fuelled by alcohol each year, the study shows - Daily Mail ​

A UK-wide minimum price on drink should be introduced to curb alcohol misuse, a report has urged. The Alcohol Commission, which was set up by the Labour Party in Scotland, has recommended a ban on selling drink at below the "floor price" of the cost of production, plus the cost of duty and VAT - The Independent​

A chef in Texas has created what he claims is the world's first recipe for deep-fried beer. The beer is placed inside a pocket of salty, pretzel-like dough and then dunked in oil at 375 degrees for about 20 seconds, a short enough time for the confection to remain alcoholic - Daily Telegraph​

Regulars have clubbed together to save the pub with the longest name in Britain. The future seemed bleak for The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn in Manchester as rumours began that it was being put on the market. With a danger that time was going to be called on a very long piece of history, regulars met and - 'in a moment of madness' - decided to buy it from owners Enterprise Inns and run it themselves - Manchester Evening News​