A decision against Harwood Drinks’ test-tube drink Mmwah has serious implications for other producers, according to drinks industry watchdog the Portman Group. After a complaint by Alcohol Focus Scotland, the Independent Complaints Panel ruled that Mmwah’s test-tube container could not easily be put down on a flat surface, meaning consumers were likely to drink its contents in one go. It decided the drink was therefore…

Sainsbury’s has agreed to change the Pitcher’s label to appease Diageo, which had alleged the own-label brand aped its Pimm’s. The retailer had said that it would “vigorously” defend the allegations when Diageo took legal action in August. In a joint statement issued today, the two companies said: “Diageo and Sainsbury’s are pleased to confirm that the dispute regarding Diageo’s Pimm’s brand and Sainsbury’s Pitchers…

The bill will also force licensing boards to consider raising the legal age to buy alcohol to 21 in all or part of the area they cover, and establish the power to introduce a social responsibility fee for some retailers. Introducing the bill, the government said alcohol misuse costs £2.25 billion a year in extra services and lost productivity. First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Up…

A £100 million industry-backed push to encourage 18 to 24-year-olds to change their drinking habits goes live today (September 1). The Campaign for Smarter Drinking is funded by the drinks industry and run in partnership with alcohol charity Drinkaware and the government. The push will see supermarkets, off-licences, pubs, bars and phone boxes displaying posters, stickers, shelf-edge barkers and drink mats featuring practical tips to…

Licensing boards have pledged not to enforce new legislation under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 until November 1 in the face of extensive delays in processing personal licences. But the WSTA – which has learned that some authorities are physically unable to print the new personal licences ahead of the original September 1 deadline – has warned that different licensing boards may interpret the new…

The sum, which includes legal costs, is a record under the Licensing Act, according to the Trading Standards Institute. Mohammed Salim, of Costcutter in The Green, has also been stripped of his licence after pleading guilty to 19 charges of breaching conditions of his premises licence. He had already pleaded guilty to selling to children through his staff back in 2007. Salim was taken to…

The producer confirmed that it had take legal action “in relation to an intellectual property matter”. A Diageo statement said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment further other than to say that Sainsbury’s is a valued customer of Diageo and we hope will continue to be so for many years. “It is Diageo’s firm intent that our strong trading relationship should not be…