2008 October

Morrisons expands wine team

A response to Howard Jones of Momentum Wines, Oswestry, Shropshire (Talking Heads, OLN, Oct 3).

Nicolas has appointed a new wine buyer to work alongside Alain Favereau – Antoine Delafarge.

The UK's first French Wine Growers Fair will be held on Nov 21-23 at London's Barbican Exhibition Centre. Over 130 wine growers from all the French wine-producing regions will present more than 500 wines at the event, which is open to the general public. Advance tickets cost £10 . For more information visit frenchwinegrowersfair.com.

Retailers in Stubbington, Hampshire, have brought in a weekend ban on selling alcohol to people under 25.

Supermarkets slash prices

An ad for Southern Comfort has been banned because it showed people having rounds of drinks at a lively party - even though its tagline carried a responsible drinking message.

Finally, a welcome voice that urges a common-sense approach to tackling alcohol abuse

Retailers are being advised to step up security as the peak season for shoplifting approaches.

All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group calls for minimum pricing on alcohol

When it comes to sport, the Australians are a supremely competitive bunch. That's why the country's

To respond to the unanswered questions below, or to ask a reader's advice, simply e mail:

oln.editorial@william-reed.co.u

Q How many drinks stores have been granted licences for 24-hour opening?

Q I've been the victim of several shoplifting incidents and often the culprits are not punished by the courts. How do I go about claiming compensation from the thieves?

Store staff need to be made to feel like important allies in the battle

against under-age sales.

We look at how retailers can get up to

How proposed alcohol regulation could affect the off-trade

Patricia Langton looks at the 2008 vintage across the northern hemisphere

Finally, help's just a call away

Your cider report (Oct 3) is right when it states that innovation has been a key driver in the success of the category, but this needs to become an ongoing process if cider is to remain front of mind with consumers.

Top retailers have joined forces with suppliers and the on-trade to present a united front in tackling excessive drinking.

Tesco is demanding improved trading terms from drinks suppliers as part of its strategy to offer keen prices as the economy falters.

Survey reveals a rapid shift by consumers forced away from £5-£6 bracket

Co-op to sell Somerfield sites

Heineken has

Eddie Thompson, founder of the Morning Noon & Night convenience store chain, has died after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Stores in Cornwall have agreed to stop selling high-strength lagers and ciders as part of a local crackdown on problem drinking.

Sussex Wine Company's new venture helps put English wine on the map

New wines from Kleine Zalze

Yorkshire drinks supplier CWF has launched a range of £2.99 British wines designed to cash in on credit crunch-fuelled growth in at-home drinking. Silver Bay Point is made from imported grape juice from Spain and comes in 75cl red, white and rosé at 8% abv. CWF said the wines can

Asda has appointed a new development manager for its