Nine months after leaving his role as head of BWS at Waitrose to become Direct Wines’ global wine director, Justin Howard-Sneyd MW is revelling in the new world the online, mail order and retail business has opened up for him.

Graham Holter examines the tabloid obsession with pensioners who are asked for ID by drinks retailers

Be warned, the Scottish government's tough alcohol policy is alive and well, says

WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadle

The supermarkets are

selling budget ranges as if their survival depended on it,

but at what cost to wine's long-term future, asks Tom Ca

Off-trade retailers may think they're being unfairly targeted with red tape, test purchases and stringent licensing conditions - but the on-trade thinks there's something much more sinister going on. Online on-trade auction site pubnclubsupermarket.com polled 100 of its members at random and found that 90% believe there is a co-ordinated strategy to drive consumers out of pubs and into the off-trade. What it didn't ask is who they think might be co-ordinating that strategy, and why.

Magners is no longer the golden child of the cider industry. John Holberry tells Christine Boggis his rescue plans

Can the son of Oddbins' former saviour work the family magic again? In his first interview, Simon Baile shares his vision with Rosie Davenport

Failing to ask for ID can put you out of business - but many retailers still take a chance, as Nigel Huddleston finds on an under-cover check.

What influences your choice of drinks?

Joint ventures that give the brand minnows a chance to swim in the big pond could turn out be profitable argues nigel huddleston

the acs

asked consumers what they

think of the under-age drinking problem. chief executive james lowman r

LAURA CLARK reports on what the future holds for pernod ricard following its acquisition of Sweden's Vin & Sprit

Laura Clark on retailers in the line of fire in test purchasing stings

Why aren't people drinking in pubs?

how will rising DRINKS duty affect the industry, asks Rebecca Evans