So far not so bad, Home Sec
The Queen's speech revealed plans for a new restrictive code for pubs, but not the draconian crackdown we feared, says Andrew Pring.
Archives for December 5, 2008
Mark Daniels: Jenson Button's Smoking Ban Woes
Jenson Button entered Formula One in 2000 amidst a ballyhoo chorus touting him as Britain's next Formula One World Champion. His performances at the...
Dispense innovation brings sales
What have the Grolsch swing-top bottle, Magners and Guinness Extra Cold all got in common? When they were first launched, they were all examples of...
Top MP: ban on below-cost selling vital
Alcohol-related problems will only be solved if the government takes action against supermarkets selling alcohol below-cost, a senior Labour MP has...
'Illegal booze chemist jailed'
A disgraced chemist was behind bars last night for operating an illegal moonshine distillery which made him a staggering £10 million. Mridyul Das...
Brandy: The story behind the spirit
We all know the French smoke in an inimitably stylish way. The image of one of our cousins from across the Channel giving a gallic shrug while...
Marston's holds dividend as profits drop
Marston's has held its final dividend to shareholders despite recording a 13% in profit before tax for the year to 4 October. Several other pubcos...
SIBA backs Publican's Make it the Minimum
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has become the latest group to back The Publican's Make it The Minimum campaign. At a SIBA council meeting...
Stealing? Yes, but can it ever be justified
With the tie under attack, and licensees' margins being squeezed tighter than ever, 'buying out' has once again been thrown into the spotlight.
Brandy: Shedding old-fashioned image
DO MANY of your customers slip on a velvet smoking jacket after dinner and retire outside to puff on a cigar, stroke their bushy military moustaches...
Gas rules to change
Pubs with older cellar cooling and air-conditioning systems may have to upgrade them to abide by European rules from the start of 2010. New checks...
Copyright is still a battle of wills
Although it takes the form of a licence, copyright in music still presents the trade with a thorny problem. It is not a simple licence with a fixed...
Adam Withrington: Wanted: A good lobbyist. Please!
There is not one industry member I have seen in the last two weeks who is not stunned to the core by the recent political goings on - from the second...
Wickwar launched credit crunch beer
A Gloucestershire brewer has created a credit crunch beer to help cheer up drinkers during the current financial crisis. Wickwar Brewing Company has...
Consumer promotion for Echo Fall Spritz
In an effort to drive sales of its ready made spritzer brand Echo Falls Spritz, Constellation is running a promotion with 15 Bristol bars on the...
Gloom deepens as on-trade sales fall
On-trade drink sales have continued their depressing decline with a drop in volumes of 8% for the year to the end of September, according to Nielsen....
Young's beer brands relaunched
Wells & Young's is to relaunch its Young's Bitter and Young's Special cask beer brands with new pump clips and above the line advertising...
Vote Labour? Never again
What on earth is the Government trying to do to pubs? Roger Protz can't believe its latest tax moves.
Who are the trade's friends?
I was intrigued to read the comments of political journalist Adam Boulton recently on the thorny question of how Government departments treat the...
Marston's full year dividend up despite profit slump
Midlands brewer Marston's has increased its full year dividend to shareholders despite announcing a 13 per cent fall in annual profits.The group said...