'Alcohol price pilot plan will 'damage' Scottish Borders'

An MSP has criticised a south of Scotland colleague who suggested the Borders should pilot plans for a minimum price per unit of alcohol. The SNP's Christine Grahame claimed that alcohol-related deaths in the area were "disproportionately higher" than other parts of the country. Lid Dem Jeremy Purvis said the claims were "grossly inaccurate and damaging". He said the Borders was actually a success story with alcohol-related death rates below the UK average - BBC ​

A pub landlady has told how she discovered a car embedded in the wall of the men's toilets. Di Watson, from the Gredington Arms, in Llan y Pwll, near Wrexham, said she had been with customers on Saturday night when she heard a "massive bang". She said: "I knew exactly what had happened. It has happened before." - BBC ​

JD Wetherspoon is expected to show a "resilient performance" in its full-year results on Friday after a World Cup boost and longer opening hours offset the impact of tax rises. The pub chain saw mixed sales growth in the year to July 25, with revenues dropping in the first half of the year, before picking up in the summer - Western Mail ​

Academic stress and the pressure to look attractive are driving young girls to alcohol and cigarettes, according to a study by the Girl Guides. More than half of girls think that young women are turning to drink to relieve their worries, while 81 per cent believe that alcohol abuse is a serious issue - Daily Telegraph​