'Trainspotting author backs minimum price crackdown'

22 November, 2009

“Irving Welsh defined Scotland's generation of 1980s drugs excess. Now the ‘Trainspotting’ author has set his sights on perhaps the nation's most widely available drug – cheap booze. Welsh has called on politicians "to stand up and be counted" and end the bargain-basement prices that have seen overall Scottish consumption of alcohol double in his lifetime. Throwing his weight behind proposed legislation to impose a minimum price for alcohol, Welsh, who has in the past admitted to using heroin and Ecstasy, stressed heavy drinking in Scotland could no longer be simply written off as a long-standing cultural problem.” – Scotsman

“Adam Fowle’s first results presentation as the permanent chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers, the pub giant, will mark the start of a new era for the Harvester and All Bar One owner. Last time he announced figures, he was acting commander in chief, and memories of the financing debacle that cost Fowle’s predecessor his job were relatively fresh. On Thursday, the new man will stamp his mark on the group but don’t expect any radical deviations from the food and beer strategy that has served the group well in recent years.” – Times