OTS p4-5 news Jul09.qxp 24/06/2009 11:43 Page 4
news
Newsround
Study says minimum pricing won’t work
+ Best country pub
Country Life magazine is
A study has been published savings to the NHS would be far drinkers that is intended to target,
looking for entries for its
which discredits the Scottish less than the Government claims. unless price increases are set at
Country Pub of the Year
Government’s plans for minimum The report calls for further very high levels, which would
award, which aims to
pricing. The report, compiled by research before the Government place an unfair burden on
encourage rural pubs to be
the Centre for Economics and commits to minimum pricing, moderate drinkers,” said the
more community-focused,
Business Research on behalf of saying that the relationship report.
rewarding hostelries that
SAB Miller, claims that higher between price and
provide good, locally sourced
prices per unit of alcohol will not consumption is
food and bring people
have the effect on consumption “complex” and
together.
that the Government claims. different types of
+ Charity success
According to the report, which drinkers exhibit very
uses a 40p per unit minimum different responses
Old Pulteney Single Malt
price as the base of its case, to changes in price.
Scotch whisky has
‘harmful drinkers’ (who consume “Pricing legislation
announced that its annual
more than 50 units per week) is unlikely to have a
charity ball, The Old Pulteney
would reduce their consumption significant impact on
Prohibition Ball, raised over
by around one to three unit per overall consumption
£5,000 for the local RNLI
Will 40p a unit make a difference?
week while it also claims the levels of those
Station in Wick, Caithness.
+ Green hotel
The George Hotel in
Punch looks to raise cash to reduce debt
Edinburgh has achieved a
Punch Taverns looks set to turn to Punch’s chief executive Giles drop in sales of 11.2% in the 40
Silver award from the Green
shareholders as it attempts to Thorley said: “This announcement weeks to 30 May and interim
Tourism Business Scheme.
reduce its burdensome £4.6bn is a clear sign to the market, our profits were down 38% to £82m,
The luxury 4-star hotel was
debt. The company, which is the partners, our customers and our however Giles said the company
awarded the prestigious
largest pubco in the UK and has employees of Punch’s was confident of the future,
honour following a visit by a
around 400 units in Scotland, is determination to move beyond despite current conditions. He
grading advisor from the
to attempt to raise £375m from the current challenging market said: “While we are confident of
Green Tourism Business
shareholders, which it plans to conditions, to focus on the longer-term expectations of
Scheme last month.
use to buy back £275m in fundamentals and continue to the group and our expectations
+ Whisky companies cut
outstanding convertible bonds. drive operational change through for the full year are unchanged,
fossil fuel
News of the plans wiped the business to deliver long-term we remain cautious over the near
£120m, or around 30%, from the shareholder value.” term due to the lack of forward
Scotch whisky companies
company’s share value. The company announced a visibility on trading outlook.”
have pledged to cut their use
of fossil fuels by 80% by
2050, under the first
Glasgow bans strip clubs
industry-wide environmental Two lap-dancing clubs in Glasgow have seen appeal the decision.
strategy. The fossil fuel applications for new licences under the 2005 Act The decision is made interesting not only by
reduction amounts to an rejected. Spearmint Rhino and Seventh Heaven the nature of the clubs’ activities, but that
annual saving by 2050 of the have both been denied licences following Spearmint Rhino only opened earlier this year.
equivalent of taking 235,000 evidence gathered by licensing standards officers The club was then told to remove the term
cars off Scotland’s roads. in the city. ‘gentlemen’s club’ from its advertising, before
Both clubs remain open as they plan to this latest news emerged.
+ Whiski gets gold
Whiski bar on Edinburgh’s
Royal Mile has been
awarded the highest level of
Aberdeen board backs down on curfew
GOLD status in the 2009
Aberdeen’s licensing board has licensing board Muriel Jaffry, is problems in Aberdeen city centre.
Whisky Magazine’s Great
pushed back the proposed late because they are governed by There is a big silent majority in
Whisky Bars of the World,
night curfew from 12.30am to gaming legislation. Aberdeen who wanted us to do
describing the bar as “a
2am, prompting late night Muriel said yesterday’s something.”
recent newcomer to the
operators to hail their campaign decision represented a good Despite this defiant statement
Edinburgh bar scene that has
against the ban a success. The compromise. “It has all been a the move is being seen as an
quickly achieved a worldwide
furore has not died down storm in a teacup as far as I’m embarrassing climbdown for the
following for it extensive
completely however as casinos concerned,” Muriel told the press. board, and the decision to move
whisky list and superb
are still exempt from the ban. “We had people clamouring for back the curfew to 2am is seen
education evenings.”
This, according to convener of the something to be done about the as a minor victory for the trade.
· 4 · ots · july 2009 · www.55north.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48