European Union

Hope for VAT cut on pub food bills

28-Aug-2008 By John Harrington

Proposal from Europe could give the green light for VAT to fall as low as 5% - but only if the UK Government agrees

Murphy case may delay foreign satellite legal actions

21-Aug-2008 By Ewan Turney

Pubs using EU-based foreign satellite systems may temporarily escape conviction until the Karen Murphy case is heard in Europe. A letter being sent...

Agent slams EPCs: delays on the way

11-Jul-2008 By Joe Lutrario

A leading agent believes bureaucracy will further complicate the arrival of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) as qualified inspectors are told they cannot issue ratings until allocated an inspector number.

Murphy case goes to European court

03-Jul-2008 By Ewan Turney ewan.turney@william-reed.co.uk

MPS: we will pursue prosecutions for Sky Karen Murphy has had her foreign satellite appeal referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). But...

Murphy foreign satellite case heads to Europe

26-Jun-2008 By James Wilmore

The judges presiding over Karen Murphy's landmark High Court foreign satellite appeal have today referred the case to Europe. It follows a decision...

Murphy case referred to Europe

26-Jun-2008 By Ewan Turney

Karen Murphy case referred to the European Court of Justice

48-hour working week saved

10-Jun-2008 By John Harrington

Pub staff have been granted a permanent right to work more than 48 hours a week. This came after a compromise from the UK, when it agreed plans to...

'Hot weather to continue throughout May'

12-May-2008

Hot, sunny weather is going to be with us for the rest of the month - including the next bank holiday - Daily ExpressBritish Gas owner Centrica...

Britain tops drinks tax table

09-May-2008

Brits are the most heavily taxed drinkers in the European Union, according to research from a leading trade body.The Association of Licensed Multiple...

Inbev UK volumes rise depsite overall drop

08-May-2008 By Ewan Turney

Inbev has reported a 4.1% increase in beer volumes in the UK for the first quarter of 2008 compared to last year despite an overall "difficult" start...

Carlsberg: Slight decline in UK volumes

07-May-2008 By Ewan Turney

Carlsberg warns further price increases are planned for the year ahead after reporting a 1% drop in beer volumes

'Heineken wins partial approval for S&N purchase'

04-Apr-2008

Heineken has won partial approval from the European Commission to buy parts of Scottish & Newcastle, in the takeover also involving Carlsberg -...

Satellite trials go to Crown Court

03-Apr-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u

Licensees plan to fight Sky all the way Five licensees face Crown Court trials in front of a jury for screening football via foreign satellite...

FSB: Small business owners not immigration officers

03-Mar-2008 By Ewan Turney

The Federation of Small Businesses has slammed new legislation on foreign workers that imposes unrealistic expectations and draconian fines on...

Inbev: UK beer volumes down 10.3%

28-Feb-2008 By Ewan Turney

Stella Artois brewer Inbev saw UK beer volumes tumble by 10.3% last year. Volumes in the fourth quarter were down 10.8% in the UK market as the smoke...

Euro MPs vote for patio heater ban

31-Jan-2008 By Ewan Turney

Euro MPs have voted in favour of phasing out the use of patio heaters today. However, a spokesman for the European Commission moved to dampen fears...

Pubs warned over 'F gas' regulations

06-Dec-2007

New regulations to combat climate change mean licensees must carry out regular checks on cellar coolers and other refrigeration equipment.Nearly...

MyShout

30-Nov-2007

The possibility that Scottish & Newcastle could be bought should concern us all, says John Grogan Last weekend's financial press reported that...

'Passive drinking crusade' starts here

15-Nov-2007 By James Wilmore

A top doctor has likened the health lobby's new 'war on alcohol' to the crusade against tobacco which resulted in the smoking ban.But Professor Ian...

InBrief

01-Nov-2007

Punch receives another fine Punch has been hit with its third fine from the Environment Agency in three years. The latest fine of £4,000, with costs...

LETTERs

25-Oct-2007

Energy pressures for licensees A recent trend in the energy market puts further pressure on newcomers and those on the move between pubs - a more...

Very challenging" trading for S&N

07-Aug-2007 By Hamish Champ

The current bad weather and other localised factors means Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) is uncertain of achieving this year's trading targets in...

What the papers say - July 5, 2007

05-Jul-2007 By Eleanor Goodman

Staff and regulars at a pub in Scarborough have organised a whip-round for Martin Whisker, 42, the first man to be fined £80 for flouting England's...

NewsDigest

07-Jun-2007

The European Union (EU) is looking to ban smokers from huddling in pub doorways, according to a report in The Observer. The newspaper says that the...

EU targets pub doorway smokers

04-Jun-2007 By Iain O'Neil

The European Union is looking to ban smokers from huddling in pub doorways, according to reports. Reports in the Observer say the EU is looking into...

InBrief

24-May-2007

Lower alcohol wines on the up Lower alcohol wines are becoming more fashionable, according to a new study from the Wine & Spirit Trade...

Crown symbol safe claim Tory MEPs

10-May-2007 By Iain O'Neil ian.oneil@william-reed.co.uk

Conservative MEPs claim to have secured the future of the much-loved crown symbol on British pint glasses. The EU had ruled that the crown symbol...

Tories claim EU crown pint victory

09-May-2007 By Iain O'Neil

Conservative MEPs claim to have secured the future of the much-loved crown symbol on British pint glasses - although now it will only be decorative.

NewsDigest

26-Apr-2007

Britvic is consulting with its staff about out-sourcing its retail distribution network to KN Drinks Logistics, and its vending and chiller...

Trade urges PM to keep crown stamp

15-Mar-2007 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u

Trade leaders have called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to reverse the decision to replace the traditional crown symbol on pint glasses with a...

Pub trade unites to save crown

09-Mar-2007 By John Harrington

Trade leaders write to Tony Blair to save the Crown symbol on pint glasses

WSTA gives evidence to Lords

02-Mar-2007 By Gareth Iacobucci

A delegation from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has given evidence to the House of Lords Committee inquiry into the reform of the EU...

MP confirms EU's pint glass crown ban

27-Feb-2007

The traditional crown stamp on pint glasses is set to vanish, because of a European Union ruling, an MP has confirmed. From now on, only the European...

Legal advice: Associated discrimination concept yet to be ruled upon

19-Feb-2007

All eyes are drawn to an interesting development in the area of disability discrimination - the concept of 'associated discrimination'. In Coleman v...

Trade welcomes Europe ruling on online booze purchases

24-Nov-2006

Trade leaders have welcomed a European Union ruling blocking shoppers from buying low duty alcohol online. The ruling could have allowed consumers to...

Pubs hit by stub-out should pay cheaper rent says Payne

23-Nov-2006 By Tony Halstead THals22851@aol.com

Pub companies are being urged to consider rent reductions for licensees whose pubs are hit worst by next year's smoking ban. Federation of Licensed...

UK to fight EU Working Time Directive

07-Nov-2006

The UK will go to Europe again today to make its case for continuing to opt out of the EU's 48 hour working week. The EU Working Time Directive...

UK to avoid tough European alcohol crackdown

24-Oct-2006

Britain looks set to avoid tough European regulation on selling and producing alcohol. The European Commission has decided not to insist on a single...

Rise in 'home drinking' continues

11-Oct-2006

Britain's alcohol consumption fell last year for the first time since 1998 but 'home drinking' continued to rise.

Legal advice: Beer-ties - the future...

06-Sep-2006

Beer-ties are one of the most debated issues in recent pub law history. Are they a good thing, are they a bad thing, should they be banned, should...

Poll points way to wine sales success

10-Aug-2006

Nearly a third of all wine drinkers will not buy the tipple in a pub, according to new research by wine giant Constellation Europe. In a poll of 700...

Pub trade attacks EU drink proposals

08-Aug-2006

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has slammed proposals to introduce Europe-wide restrictions on alcohol sales which could increase prices...

EC commissions report from group with temperance links

17-May-2006

The alcohol industry is up in arms as authors with links to the temperance movement have submitted a report on alcohol to the European Commission....

EU 10per cent beer tax.

23-Feb-2006 By Iain O'Neil

Reports suggest the EU is to consider imposing a 10 per cent beer tax in all member states

What the Sunday papers said

02-Oct-2005

Anthony Fuller, the deer-stalking boss of Fuller's brewery, has denied the Independent Family Brewers of Britain Association (IFBBA) - which he also...

Sheps to brew Asahi Super Dry

26-Jul-2005

Shepherd Neame has signed a deal to brew Japanese lager Asahi Super Dry under licence for the UK market.The agreement will see the brand brewed and...

Blair will use opt-out to thwart 48-hour week

19-May-2005

by John Harrington The European Parliament has voted to scrap the right of countries to opt out of the Working Time Directive. The move, if enacted,...

Legal advice: Don't be a victim of spam

17-May-2005

By Bryony Edwards of thePublican.com's team of legal experts at London solicitors Joelson Wilson."Spam" affects the email inboxes of individuals and...

Light ales face chop as a result of EU directive

05-May-2005

by Ewan Turney Light ales may face the chop as an "unintended consequence" of a European Union health directive on food labelling. The EU directive...

Could drink be heading the same way as tobacco?

10-Mar-2005

Eurocrats are stamping down on the drinks industry and have warned the trade it must "put its house in order" or risk European intervention.Comments...