'High income households among biggest alcohol drinkers'

Top earners are more likely to drink alcohol frequently than adults in poorer households, a survey says. The Health Survey for England 2009 found that 29% of men and 17% of women in the highest-earning group consumed alcohol on five or more days a week. This compared to just 17% of men and 11% of women in the lowest income households - BBC​

A Christmas gesture by two Scottish Labour MSPs that saw them donate crates of beer to army veterans prompted a sniffy response from the SNP yesterday. Jackie Baillie and Richard Baker handed over the crates of Peroni to residents at Edinburgh's Whitefoord House after they received the drink from brewers SABMiller. Michael Matheson, the SNP MSP, said: "SABMiller lobbied MSPs extensively to block minimum pricing and this is clearly Labour's reward for a job well done - Scotsman​

More people than ever before died of alcohol abuse in Northern Ireland last year. There were 283 deaths and the toll has risen by around 50% over the last decade. People are dying up to 24 years early. The largest number of deaths happened in those aged 45-54 and the most deprived were most likely to die - Press Association​

A bungling arsonist was jailed for two years yesterday after making two dud Molotov cocktails to firebomb a pub. Jobless chef Andrew Price, 53, was furious after being kicked out of his local and stormed off to make the bombs. But he used non-flammable diesel instead of petrol before being caught fiddling with the devices in his garden, Bristol crown court was told - The Mirror​

A memorable piece of TV history has been stolen from Britain's highest pub, its owner said today. In the 1980s the Everest double glazing company demonstrated its product in an advert filmed at the Tan Hill Inn, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, when the late Ted Moult dropped a feather next to a window as a gale raged outside. But the feather has been stolen with a stag party getting the blame - Daily Mail​

Forecasters said that cold conditions were expected to continue into next week as a white Christmas becomes more and more likely. Treacherous driving conditions were reported on the roads caused by widespread ice amid concerns for rush-hour travellers. The heaviest snowfall last night was in northern Scotland and Northern Ireland with parts of Wales and south-west England also affected - The Telegraph ​