Alcohol sold in supermarket should be taxed at a higher rate that booze sold in pubs to help cut problem drinking and benefit public health, according to research commissioned by The Institute of Alcohol Studies. Furthermore, think thank the Social Market Foundation thinks the move would also help the struggling pub sector by making drinking at home less affordable (BBC). Under the same study, it emerged that wine lovers are paying up to seven times the alcohol duty per glass compared to cider drinkers, with the SMF calling for a change after Brexit (Telegraph).
A study published by the British Medical Journal might put a brake on the rise of plant-based diets after it highlighted that vegetarians and vegans have a 20% higher risk of stroke that people who regularly eat meat. The author of the study thinks this is related to the vegans and vegetarians not having enough cholesterol in their blood (Telegraph).
French retail giant Casino gleefully announced the addition of Daniel Kretinsky to its shareholder register with a 4.6%. A seat on Casino’s board would follow for a representative of the Czech billionaire. That lifted shares by as much as 5%. Support from one of Europe’s most contrarian investors, though, serves to highlight Casino’s fall from grace. (The Financial Times £)
The pound rose above $1.23 on Thursday recovering from there-years lows as investors cheered repeated blows to Boris Johnsons’ failed attempts at pushing a no-deal Brexit (Financial Times £). Sterling rose at the highest levels since July on Thursday after a string of government defeats (Guardian). Analysts warned a yo-yo currency effect was still being determined by the likelihood of a no-deal exit as well as a Corbyn government (The Times £).
A Canadian start-up behind technology that could sharply reduce the amount of plant pesticides as well as enhance the effectiveness of natural and organic crop protection has raised $45m in early stage funding. (The Financial Times £)
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