Figures for thought

British pubs enjoyed a sales boost of five million pints a day over the festive period, bringing total sold over the period to 270 million pints. Martin Information, London, reported that more than 15 million people visited a pub every week over the Christmas period. This is just as well as price discounting of beer by the grocers in the running-up to Christmas was at least as bad as the previous year. According to industry sources, Scottish & Newcastle, the UK beer market leader, generates a lower operating profit margin in November and December than any other time of the year.