A round-up of industry news from Bar magazine

Ban on cigarette vending machines gains assent Cigarette vending machines will be banned from bars, clubs and pubs from October 2011 under a Government bill that received Royal assent last week. The new Health Act 2009 will also prohibit shops from displaying tobacco at point of sale. It will still be legal for cigarettes to be sold over the bar. The new Policing and Crime Act 2009 was also given Royal assent, promising a crackdown on drinks promotions through a mandatory code on alcohol, although details of the code are still to be decided.

Collective like-for-like sales continue to grow The UK’s major bar, pub and restaurant operators increased their like-for-like sales by 2.8 per cent in October, according to the latest monthly Coffer Peach Business Tracker. It was the largest monthly increase since Easter and the seventh consecutive month of positive like-for-likes collectively from the 14 major companies that make up the monthly sample, including Mitchells & Butlers and Novus Leisure. “They again emphasise the fact that the bigger players have in general been able to stay ahead of the market and that consumer spending on eating and drinking out has not been as badly hit as many predicted at the start of the year,” said Peter Martin, chief executive of Peach Factory, which produces the tracker in partnership with KPMG, UBS and the Coffer Group. Read more Bar specialists launch premium tequila Olmeca Altos Pernod Ricard has launched new premium tequila Olmeca Altos, created by bar consultants Henry Besant and Dre Masso of the Worldwide Cocktail Club and Jesus Hernandez, master distiller of Mexico’s Omeca distillery. Available in reposado and blanco, it was developed to offer the bar trade a high-quality premium spirit at an affordable price for use in cocktails and other mixed drinks. M&B puts freeholds up for sale Mitchells & Butlers has put three of the freeholds of its London tenanted pubs up for sale for £4.65million. It has put the Northumberland Arms on Goodge Street, the Lansdowne in Primrose Hill and t he Hour Glass in South Kensington on the market because they “no longer fit its portfolio”. The leases, which are from 10 to 15 years, will remain in place and are most likely to appeal to investors. They are on the market through Wimpole Property Consultants. Hix plans new restaurant and bar Chef Mark Hix is to open a Hix restaurant and champagne bar at Selfridges in London, adding to his expanding portfolio. He is due to open the Oxford Street venue in March next year in a joint venture with Sir Terence Conran and Selfridges. It will be on the ground floor where the Gallery restaurant was formerly located. It follows October’s opening of restaurant Hix in Brewer Street, Soho, which includes a basement lounge bar called Mark’s Bar. VAT increase postponed on New Year’s Eve Bars, clubs and pubs that remain open after midnight on New Year’s Eve can continue charging VAT at 15 per cent until 6am on Ja nuary 1, the government has announced. It will help venues that account for VAT at point of sale, who would otherwise have to update their systems at the busiest time. VAT is returning to 17.5 per cent on New Year’s Day after being cut to 15 per cent last December to encourage consumer spending during the recession. Leading doctor calls for soft drink tax Soft drinks containing sugar, such as cola, should be taxed to raise money for hospitals and for tackling obesity, according to the chair of an NHS trust in the north-west. According to yesterday’s Observer newspaper, Dr Kailash Chand said the extra cost would reduce consumption while raising billions for the health service. Read more A-B InBev boosts profits and UK volumes Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, reported net profits of $1.5billion for its third quarter - more than double the $690million reported last year before its takeover of Anheuser Busch. The group’s brands, Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck's, achieved volume growth of 3.7 per cent in the UK during the three-month period. New freeze-dried fruits for cocktails Cream Supplies has launched a range of freeze-dried fruits for use in cooking or in cocktails and smoothies. With 100 per cent natural flavours, they can be used either straight from the pack or rehydrated in drinks and food. The packs have a long shelf life and only a very small amount is required to add flavour.

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