Trade bodies in Scotland will unite to urge the authorities to crack down on duty fraud at a Parliamentary Reception in January. The Scottish Grocers’ Federation, Scottish Wholesale Association and Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group will argue that tackling the estimated billions of pounds lost through counterfeiting “should be a New Year’s Resolution”. Inspector Alan Dron, chair of the Scottish Anti Illicit Trade Group, said: “Criminals…

Drinks industry charity The Benevolent has taken “the tough and uncomfortable decision” to sell a care home that looks after drinks industry veterans due to its “unsustainable drain” on funds. It is selling The Vintry Estate in Eastbourne to The William Pears Group, which owns several thousand homes in Britain. Ex-drinks industry residents living in bungalows on the estate will remain in their homes and continue…