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A SECOND attempt to allow councils to ban lap dancing clubs is unlikely to cause existing venues to close, a leading lawyer claimed last week. Sandra White, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, has revived her bid to empower local authorities to impose blanket bans on adult entertainment venues in their area, after her previous attempt was defeated in parliament in 2010. Believing lap dancing clubs to be “exploitative”, “demeaning to women” and sometimes linked to criminal activity.

TWO Scottish breweries are set for expansion after receiving grants of almost £2.5 million from the Scottish Government. Glasgow-based Heidi Beers Ltd, which trades as West brewery, was awarded £1.85 million under the government’s Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC) scheme, while Fraserburgh’s Brewdog received £551,000. Both brewers will use the grants to fund ambitious expansion plans. West aims to move all of its production, including the 70% of its operations currently based in Germany.

A CALL was last week made for a more balanced approach to the alcohol debate following the publication of more alcohol harm statistics. Licensing lawyer Stephen McGowan wants the positive role the responsible sale and consumption of alcohol can play in society to be better highlighted, claiming a proper debate on alcohol must consider the benefit as well as the detriment alcohol can bring.

POLICE have moved to reassure Glasgow’s late night operators they will not be asked to pay for extra police on the city’s streets. Bar and club owners feared a blanket ‘polluter pays’ style fee could be levied on late night venues after a newspaper report claimed that some nightclubs were funding extra officers to patrol the city centre.

CRIMINAL gangs will seize the opportunity to cash in if minimum unit pricing for alcohol is introduced in Scotland. The warning came last week from a public policy think-tank, which claims data from HMRC (Her Majesty’s’ Revenue & Customs) proves that organised crime is adept at profiting from a range of market sectors.

IRN Bru owner AG Barr has confirmed it is in talks with fellow soft drinks giant Britvic about a possible merger. A joint statement from both companies confirmed discussions are at an early stage following an approach by Cumbernauld-based Barr, which also owns Strathmore water, to Britvic, whose portfolio includes Britvic mixers and juices, Fruit Shoot and J2O.

A CAMPAIGN for a return to traditional pub and nightclub trading hours has been launched in Glasgow, amid growing concern that intense price competition between operators is fuelling binge drinking in the city late at night. Operators are lobbying the city’s licensing board, the police and council leaders for the restoration of the midnight and 3am closing times for pubs and clubs, which largely prevailed until the 2005 licensing Act replaced seven licence types with the single premises licence in 2009.

GLASGOW’S hotels, bars and restaurants enjoyed a bumper spin-off from London 2012 as sports fans flocked to the city to catch the Olympic football action at Hampden. Hotel occupancy rates on the night the first of eight games played at the national stadium reached a record 96%, compared to 90% and 81% on the same day in the previous two years, according to figures quoted by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

ON the day Sir Chris Hoy took his second gold medal at London 2012, making him the most successful British Olympian ever, a brewery in the cyclist’s home city was celebrating a gold medal of its own. Embra, the 5% ABV amber beer from Stewart Brewing, was named Champion Bottled Beer of Britain at this year’s CAMRA Great British Beer Festival in London on August 7.

Pubs in Peterhead are hoping for a trade bonanza when followers of the reborn Rangers come calling this weekend. Operators in the north east town are gearing up for a busy day on Saturday when Peterhead FC host the Ibrox side’s first match in division three. They’re pinning their hopes on a cash boost similar to that enjoyed by the local economy in Brechin when Rangers fans descended for the Ramsdens Cup match on July 29.