Newsdesk: maximising the minimums

(Graphic from BBC News.) This week's news is minimum drink pricing, because you can't keep a controversial public health policy down.

• While Holyrood has forced the Scottish Government to delay the introduction of minimum pricing north of the border, the UK's Chief Medical Officer has suggested that Westminster implement a similar scheme to combat problem drinkers (PDF link). Sir Liam Donaldson's recommendation - charging at least 50p per unit of alcohol - has met with resistance from the Prime Minister, but he's determined to fight on. Unsurprisingly, the drinks industry believes self-regulation to be the solution, but there are those beginning to wonder if something drastic should be done. Then again, there are those beginning to wonder if a new age of puritanism will actually help, and there are those who can always see the upside.

(Happy St Patrick's Day!... by shannonpatrick17, licensed under Creative Commons.)

• Of course, all of this breaks in the 24 hours ahead of St. Patrick's Day (a.k.a Amateur Night) which is as good a time as any to celebrate 250 years of Guinness.
• Over in Indonesia, it's not how much they're charging for booze: it's where they're serving it as the Buddha Bar in Jakarta faces allegations of religious insensitivity and corruption.

Newsdesk: no, you can't

• There are many noble Scottish traditions - St Andrews Day, the Edinburgh Festival, for example, and it's important not to forget drinking. Whether it's three litres of cheap cider in a supermarket carpark or an expensive single malt in an upmarket bar, we're much better at it north of the border. But the current Scottish Government - the Scottish Nationalist Party, no less - are set on introducing a flotilla of measures aimed at combating the nation's, uh, complicated relationship with the bottle. Funnily enough, not everybody is impressed.
  
• Joining the entirety of Scotland in the problem-drinker club this week - members of the world's orchestras. C'mon in boys, there's beer for everyone!
• Bad news for anyone planning on releasing a whisky in 2009, as Whisky Magazine name their Icons of Whisky for 2009 while I try to include the words "whisky" and "2009" as many times as I can in one sentence without it sounding weird
• Things the internet is already aware of: Gary Regan asks Obama can we haz metric? - Paul Clarke on moonshiners - Eric Felten on sibling rivalry in the world of liqueurs.

Newsdesk: you'd be amazed at what we can do

When it first came to prominence, whisky was thought to be the water of life. It's been a while since then, but it's still proving to be transformative.

• It can be arty, if you're willing to face a little price rise and a bit of criticism. It can be misspelt and as easily misunderstood. According to some Australians, it can even be hangover-free.
• In binge drinking news, new research suggests that it's a coping mechanism adopted back in Viking times and officially not our fault. Other research estimates 1,500 Scots will gain no comfort from the news, having died from alcohol abuse.
• Time for a success story in tough times: Britain's microbreweries get some love from the Guardian. They're not the only sector in growth, either - there's Hong Kong's roaring wine trade, too.
• If you're anything like me, you'd have spent the Oscars asleep. If you're not, you could have tried Gourmet's themed cocktails, or maybe spent a little more than you'd planned.

Newsdesk: Back to basics

(Alphabet blocks by dklimke, licensed under Creative Commons.) This week's news links are brought to by the Martini - alleviating middle-class stress through gin and vermouth since 1867!

• The release of Revolutionary Road and the return of Mad Men for a second season has reminded the world of the  official cocktail of business lunches and the 1950's. You can't knock its place in popular culture or its heritage (or can you?), but the important question remains: how much vermouth?
• Stocking your home bar? No need to go crazy.
• The global economic downturn claims its first casualty in the spirit world, with the news that beer has replaced raki as Turkey's drink of choice.
• The minds at eGullet turn their attention to the difficult task of naming drinks.
• Also at eGullet: taking his cue from Underhill-Lounge's trip through the Savoy Cocktail Book, forum user evo-lution is planning to work his way through Jerry Thomas' The Bar Tender's Guide.
• Topical this one, given the recent focus on responsible drinking among adults and children, Paul Clarke's latest contribution to Proof looks at why he drinks the way he does.
• From California, the nascent trend in beer cocktails - no margaveza?
• From NYC, an interview with Belvedere brand ambassador Claire Smith.
• If you live in Britain, you'll be familiar with the Government asking you to drink responsibly. It seems they might even try asking nicely.

Newsdesk: nanny state

This week's Newsdesk is sponsored by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for Her Majesty's Government - helping you raise your kids since 1998.

• The CMO's advice that children under 15 should not be given alcohol has sparked a fairly predictable. Mark Lawson decries the nanny state as definitely not rock'n'roll, while the Times looks at things a little more philosophically.
• A visit to Drink in Boston leads Wayne Curtis to ponder the classic cocktail revival.
• The iPhone's march into ubiquity spreads to another front as the WSJ looks at the spread of cocktail recipes apps.
• Sasha Petraske is interviewed ahead of expanding into Atlanta.