'Pupils act smashed in school'

Primary school pupils are being taught to act drunk - in a bid to highlight the dangers of boozing. A drama initiative gets 10-year-olds to pretend they're bevvied in scenarios where drinking gets out of hand at weddings, nightclubs and among teens in parks. The project's organisers say it shows getting drunk "isn't cool" and warns youngsters not to bow to peer pressure. But last night experts said the council-backed move - taking place in schools in East Lothian - could lead to "vulnerable" pupils needing counselling - The Sun​

A selection of Andrew Lloyd Webber's wine collection has been sold for £3.5 million at auction in China. The eagerly-anticipated sale, held at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong, featured 8,837 bottles of classic French wines, including what experts regard as the finest white Burgundies ever for sale in the region. Pre-sale estimates suggested that the 746 lots (mainly cases of 12 or six bottles, but also some individual bottles) would fetch £2.6 million but the salesroom was filled to capacity with what Sotheby's said was "spirited and jovial bidding from all over Asia." - Daily Telegraph​

John Lovering has called time on his role as chairman of Mitchells & Butlers after only a year in the job. Mr Lovering, who was formerly chairman of Debenhams, on Monday said that he would leave the pubs group this year but did not give a reason for his departure, or say what he would do next - Financial Times​

Experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) blame alcohol consumption and obesity levels for the number of cancer cases. Overall, the UK is 22nd of the top 50 countries for cancer rates, with Denmark in first place. Professor Martin Wiseman is medical and scientific adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund, which compiled the league tables based on WHO data. He said: "The high incidence rates in the UK, Denmark and other high-income countries are not inevitable and lifestyle changes can make a real difference to people's risk." - Sky News​