07-Sep-2011 By Michelle Perrett
The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has launched a new Challenge 25 initiative to ensure pubs comply with new proof-of-age regulations, which come into force next month.
16-Aug-2011 By Michelle Perrett
The SBPA has called for the City of Dundee Licensing Board not to proceed a bottle marking scheme for licensed premises.
08-Aug-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report
Scottish pub operator G1 Group has announced a new venture with troubled bar and hotel company Festival Group, which entered into pre-pack...
28-Jun-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report
An attempt to give the Scottish Government power to set their own rates of alcohol duty has failed. An amendment to the Scotland Bill giving the...
23-Jun-2011 By Adam Pescod
Traditional inner city pubs have suffered the most since the introduction of smoking bans in Scotland, England and Wales, says a new report from the...
Vending machine ban in Scotland delayed
06-Jun-2011 By Gurjit Degun
A ban on cigarette sales from vending machines in Scotland has been put back because of ongoing legal challenges, the Scottish Government has...
01-Jun-2011 By Gurjit Degun
Banks are being increasingly "pernickety" about lending to pubs, experts claim as figures released by the Bank of England show that Britain's top five banks fell short of their target to lend £19bn for the first three months of the year.
23-May-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report
BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds has urged the Scottish National Party to reconsider its policies towards alcohol tax.
19-May-2011 By Michelle Perrett
A minimum pricing law could be introduced in Scotland as early as April next year, following the landslide victory of the Scottish National Party...
16-May-2011 By Lesley Foottit
A campaign has been launched to "level the playing field" regarding treatment of the on and off-trade by licensing boards.
28-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit
A Scottish trade chief has hit out at the ever-increasing burden of legislation and denounced minimum pricing plans.
08-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report
The Royal Bank of Scotland looks set to suffer a shortfall of more than £5m in respect of its loans to bar group Cougar Leisure.
Maclay Inns to expand this year
01-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report
Maclay Inns, the Scottish pub operator, plans to add two or three sites to its estate in the coming year after reporting a 26% rise in operating...
25-Mar-2011 By Lesley Foottit
Smokers' lobby group Forest has called for amendments to the smoking ban in Scotland ahead of the fifth anniversary of its introduction tomorrow (26...
'Ban drink ads from television and sports demand doctors'
25-Mar-2011 By James Wilmore
Alcohol advertising should be banned from all television screens and sporting events to remove its "profound and unhealthy" influence on young...
'Supermarkets to sign voluntary 'responsible alcohol retailing' deal with government'
13-Mar-2011 By Hamish Champ
Retail giant Asda and brewing behemoth Heineken are to lead a "responsibility deal" with the government, ending price promotion in the entrances to...
'Punch shares rise on surprise results'
11-Mar-2011 By Matt Eley Matt
Shares rose 6 per cent on an 8.6 per cent increase in same-store sales at the pubs Punch manages directly, including the Fayre & Square and Chef...
'Punch Taverns considering pub sell-off'
06-Mar-2011
Punch Taverns is considering selling nearly one-quarter of its 6,800 pubs as part of a strategic review that would see it focusing on its managed...
New Scottish alcohol crackdown to hit in October
28-Feb-2011 By James Wilmore
A major clampdown on alcohol sales in Scotland - including a ban on "irresponsible" off-trade promotions and pubs being forced to operate a Challenge...
25-Feb-2011 By Lesley Foottit
Making the Challenge 25 age check policy compulsory in pubs on Saturday 1 October could be "very problematic for pubs", says SBPA.
Scots pubs face postcode lottery over Royal wedding extra hours
16-Feb-2011
Scottish pubs hoping to celebrate the Royal wedding by opening late are facing a frustrating postcode lottery on extensions. Each of the country's...
26-Jan-2011 By Lesley Foottit
Members of the Scottish Parliament will today hear evidence on proposals for a large retailer levy. Scottish finance secretary John Swinney, who...
'Wetherspoon chief joins chorus of disapproval over rates plan'
17-Jan-2011
Tim Martin, chairman of pubs group JD Wetherspoon, has added his voice to the criticism of the Scottish Government's proposed "supermarket tax". The...
14-Jan-2011 By Tony Halstead
Burns Night presents one of the few opportunities in January for licensees to entice people into the pub with a big event, says Tony Halstead — and...
'NI pub trade 'critical' after weather wipeout'
20-Dec-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
The chief executive of a major hospitality body in Northern Ireland has said the situation for the local industry is "critical" after trade was badly...
'High income households among biggest alcohol drinkers'
17-Dec-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Top earners are more likely to drink alcohol frequently than adults in poorer households, a survey says. The Health Survey for England 2009 found...
'Punch Taverns' investors set for AGM showdown'
12-Dec-2010
Directors at Punch Taverns will come under fire at its AGM this week when shareholders demand action to reduce debt of more than £3bn. The new chief...
09-Dec-2010 By Ewan Turney
Drinks discount cards in Scotland are legal, a judge has ruled in a test case on irresponsible promotions in Scotland. Dundee's Sheriff Court ruled...
06-Dec-2010 By Lesley Foottit
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has accused Glasgow's licensing board of "profiteering" from the pub industry.
18-Nov-2010 By Michelle Perrett
A new version of Magners, one which is designed to be served without ice, will be rolled out in England and Wales next year. Magners Golden Draught,...
The problem with minimum pricing
18-Nov-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
In an industry where it sometimes seems that business leaders struggle to agree on anything at all, there is one issue that has divided opinion like...
11-Nov-2010 By Ewan Turney
Brewer and pub operator Greene King has voiced its disappointment to the defeat of minimum price in Scotland. Minimum pricing was voted down by 76...
Scots off-trade hit with promotions ban
11-Nov-2010 By James Wilmore
Scottish supermarkets and off-licences will be banned from offering "irresponsible" promotions on alcohol from next spring. A host of radical new...
11-Nov-2010 By John Harrington
MSPs have rejected new restrictions on pub drinks promotions in Scotland but paved the way for the controversial social responsibility fee and...
Scots minimum pricing plan faces D-day
10-Nov-2010 By James Wilmore
MSPs are facing pressure from both sides as they prepare to vote for the final time today on controversial plans to introduce a minimum price. The...
Scots minimum pricing plan rejected in final vote
10-Nov-2010 By James Wilmore
The Scottish government's bid to introduce a minimum price of 45p a unit has been rejected for a third and final time today. MSPs voted 76-49...
10-Nov-2010 By Michelle Perrett
Plans by the Scottish National Party to introduce a minimum 45p price per unit on alcohol has failed. It was voted down by 76 to 49 for the third...
10-Nov-2010 By Lesley Foottit
Scotch Whisky distillers have urged MSPs to reject proposals for a minimum price for alcohol. The Scottish parliament is due to vote today (10...
'Call to back minimum alcohol price'
09-Nov-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
MSPs have been urged to seize a "historic opportunity" and back Scottish Government proposals to introduce a minimum alcohol price. Professor Sir Ian...
'Scottish pubs targeted in cocaine campaign'
08-Nov-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
The Scottish government is launching its biggest ever awareness-raising campaign on the dangers of cocaine use. Staff will visit 140 pubs and clubs...
08-Nov-2010 By Ewan Turney
The Scottish National Party has called on opposition parties to vote for minimum pricing when it reaches Parliament this week. The call comes after...
05-Nov-2010 By John Harrington
A legal test case is set to rule on the legality of drinks discount cards in Scotland — and could provide clarity on other promotions. Mitchells...
29-Oct-2010 By Lesley Foottit
A Scottish county has become the first in the country to ban new pubs, clubs and off-licences from almost every street in the area. The...
11-Oct-2010 By Lesley Foottit
Jeff Myers, the managing director of the pub division of Greene King's Scottish brewery Belhaven, died in his sleep last Friday aged 48. He...
'Europe to decide on non-Sky TV satellite football in UK pubs'
04-Oct-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
The European Court of Justice is to determine whether pubs can show live football matches on satellite TV, without having to pay a subscription to...
'Scottish government alcohol plans face further defeat'
29-Sep-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Scottish government plans which could see under 21s banned from buying alcohol from off-sales are set to be rejected by MSPs. Labour, the Tories, and...
22-Sep-2010 By John Harrington
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has slammed the "unholy alliance" of Labour and Tories for scuppering minimum pricing in Scotland.
22-Sep-2010 By Ewan Turney
The Scottish Government's plans to introduce a minimum price on alcoholic drinks has been defeated at Holyrood today. The Scottish Conservatives...
'Mixed reaction to Borders drinks price pilot proposals'
17-Sep-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
An MSP's proposal to pilot minimum alcohol pricing in the Scottish Borders has generated a mixed response from the public. Some BBC Scotland news...
'Police chief talks down Buckfast ban'
16-Sep-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
A Scottish police chief and a leading crime expert have said that banning caffeinated alcoholic drinks such as Buckfast would not prevent or reduce...
