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...
'UK inflation rate stays at 3.1 per cent'
12-Oct-2010 By James Wilmore
UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation remained unchanged in September at 3.1%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The Retail...
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...
13-Sep-2010 By Ewan Turney
Health Boards are to be given new powers to object to licence applications in Scotland under an amendment to the Alcohol Bill.
Police issue closure threat to pubs over toughened glass
09-Sep-2010
Scotland's largest police force is warning licensees they could face a premises licence review, leading to possible closure, if they don't come up to...
'Health boards 'should have licensing powers like police''
08-Sep-2010
Health boards will be given powers to object to any drinks licence under Government plans to enhance Scotland's crusade against the damaging impact...
'Alcohol price pilot plan will 'damage' Scottish Borders'
06-Sep-2010
An MSP has criticised a south of Scotland colleague who suggested the Borders should pilot plans for a minimum price per unit of alcohol. The SNP's...
'MPs face dearer beer in the Commons'
05-Sep-2010
MPs will have to fork out a lot more in their taxpayer-subsidised bars in the Houses of Parliament when they return to work tomorrow (Monday). They...
03-Sep-2010 By Ewan Turney
A Scottish pub trade leader has hit out at the 45p a unit minimum price plan fearing it will damage the sector. The Scottish National Party...
Trade figures slam SNP's 45p price plan
03-Sep-2010
Scotland's proposal for a minimum price of 45p per unit of alcohol has been slammed by supermarket chiefs and trade figures. The announcement made...
SNP opts for 45p minimum price
02-Sep-2010
The Scottish government has today proposed that the minimum price of a unit of alcohol should be 45p. Scotland's Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon...
Glasgow faces freeze on new pub openings
02-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore
Glasgow is facing a ban on the opening of new pubs, clubs and off-licences - and other Scottish councils are being urged to follow suit. The city's...
02-Sep-2010 By John Harrington
The Scottish Government has proposed setting a minimum price of 45p per unit, claiming it will mean 50 fewer deaths in the first year.
31-Aug-2010 By Ewan Turney
The Government should set a UK-wide "floor price" for alcohol based on the cost of production, duty and VAT rather than a minimum price, according to...
Health groups make fresh plea for minimum pricing
20-Aug-2010 By James Wilmore
Three leading health groups have urged the Scottish government to press ahead with plans for a minimum price - despite an updated study showing it...
BII chief: Councils will be 'under pressure' to follow Glasgow's crackdown
12-Aug-2010
A trade chief has warned other councils across Scotland will be "under pressure" to follow Glasgow's lead on tackling health concerns around alcohol....
10-Aug-2010 By Lesley Foottit
Licensees should be on guard against another "legal high", which has caused around 20 users in Scotland to be hospitalised. Ivory Wave is sold as...
05-Aug-2010 By Ewan Turney
A controversial minimum price on alcohol scheme could be run in Scotland on a trial basis, the health secretary said.
Matthew Clarke sells Forth Wines
05-Aug-2010 By Hamish Champ
Matthew Clarke, the drinks distributor, has sold its Forth Wines business to a consortium of ex-trade figures for an undisclosed sum. Backed by RBS...
04-Aug-2010 By Ewan Turney
Drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark, partly owned by Punch Taverns, has sold its Scottish wine merchant business Forth Wines to a group of senior...
'All-day drink law was a mistake, says police chief'
02-Aug-2010
The 24-hour drink licensing laws were a "mistake", Association of Chief Police Officers president Sir Hugh Orde says. It comes after the new home...
28-Jul-2010 By Lesley Foottit
An Aberdeen councillor is waiting for guidance from the Scottish government before acting on irresponsible alcohol promotions.
'I'll have what he's having' is a genetic response'
27-Jul-2010
Dutch researchers have found those carrying the long version of the dopamine D4 7-repeat genotype are more susceptible to excessive drinking...
26-Jul-2010 By John Harrington
Scottish trade chiefs have blamed the "cost and complexity" of the country's new Licensing Act for a 14% fall in alcohol licences. Figures obtained...
Fall in Scottish licence numbers
26-Jul-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
One in seven licences have not been renewed since new laws were introduced in Scotland last year. According to analysis by the Scottish Beer &...
Carling gets behind Scottish football
22-Jul-2010
Lager brand Carling has signed up for a four year deal with the Scottish Football Association (SFA). The seven figure sponsorship will see the brand...
Scots are Brits biggest drinkers
22-Jul-2010
Research revealing that Scots drink around 100 pints of beer a year more than English and Welsh counterparts has led to more calls for minimum...
SBPA attacks lack of clarity over cig vending ban plans
20-Jul-2010 By James Wilmore
A trade group has hit out at the Scottish government for a "lack of guidance" and "clarity" over plans to ban cigarette vending machines. The...
'Osborne launches bonfire of the taxes'
20-Jul-2010 By James Wilmore
George Osborne will signal his intention today to take the axe to Britain's labyrinthine tax system when he announces the creation of a new panel of...
01-Jul-2010 By Ewan Turney
Anyone applying for a premises licence in Scotland will have to state what they've done to abide by disability discrimination laws, after an...
Edinburgh pubs fight council over capacity clampdown
30-Jun-2010 By James Wilmore
Pub operators in Edinburgh have launched a legal fightback against the council over its bid to cut the capacity of venues that don't have enough...
29-Jun-2010 By Lesley Foottit
The Confederation of British Industry in Scotland (CBI Scotland) has "serious misgivings" over minimum pricing of alcohol.
'Two football fans given nationwide ban on watching World Cup in pubs'
18-Jun-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Two football fans have become the first in Britain to be banned from watching the World Cup in any pub. The pair were arrested on suspicion of being...
Frustration as minimum price plan hits 'end of the road'
17-Jun-2010
Licensees have revealed their disappointment at plans for minimum pricing in Scotland appearing to hit a dead end. The Scottish government has been...
10-Jun-2010 By John Harrington
Scotland's health secretary has urged MSPs to rise above party politics and support minimum pricing. It came as MSPs are set to debate Scotland's...
'Smoking ban smashes toll of heart attacks'
09-Jun-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
The number of heart attacks has fallen dramatically since the smoking ban came in, figures reveal. At least 1,200 heart attacks were prevented in...
27-May-2010 By John Harrington
The Health and Sport Committee also backs plans for a new disorder levy on premises, and mandatory Challenge 21, in a new report.
25-May-2010 By John Harrington
Trade chiefs say a cut in the drink-drive limit in Scotland is almost inevitable after plans to devolve power on setting the limit.
'Carnage student pub crawl organiser spared jail after punching 61-year-old unconscious'
30-Apr-2010 By James Wilmore
A student pub-crawl organiser has been given a suspended jail sentence for punching a 61-year-old man unconscious after he expressed concerns about...
29-Apr-2010 By John Harrington
Next week Britain goes to the polls — download the definitive summary of what each party's policies would mean for the pub trade.
Early trading ban in Edinburgh branded 'disappointing'
27-Apr-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
A blanket ban on early opening in Edinburgh has been branded as "very disappointing" by a leading trade group. The Scottish Beer & Pub...
Roy Beers: The Scottish Licensing Act should keep lawyers in work for the foreseeable future
20-Apr-2010
As professional loophole-spotters they could be seen as people with a major concern in identifying any ambiguities or problematic turns of phrase...
