The latest statistics

Here are some facts that could interest you…

Statistics reveal that only 6% of bar staff have received beer training.

Consumers are eating out less often during March than in the same period last year according to Friary Marketing and Consulting Group's (FMCG) latest QuickBite consumer eating out survey.

Kohinoor Foods Limited, a basmati rice brand in India, has broken the Guinness World Record attempt for the world's largest Biryani, weighing in at 13 tonnes.

In 2007 the likes of Vintage Inns, Harvester, Beefeater and Chef & Brewer reduced the cost of their main dishes, overriding the previous trend of lowering the price tags for starters and desserts.

In London the cost of a meal rose by 3.9% compared with the previous year but further up the country from the Midlands to Scotland prices increased by a more modest 1.6%.

Alcohol tax has risen by 6% - with a 2% annual increase for the next four years.

4p has been put on a pint of beer, 3p on cider, 14p on wine, and a massive 55p on spirits.

New research reveals that the number of pubs closed permanently has increased to 57 a month. Almost one third of pubs closed permanently are being demolished, while 36% are converted to shops, cafes and restaurants, and 33% to some other use, mostly residential.

One in six people do not have access to safe water, and 5,000 children die every day from water-related diseases.

Charlton House has an annual turnover of £70 million and employs 1,900 people nationwide.

King UK's six distribution hubs, supported by a fleet of some 100 commercial vehicles, make over 10,000 deliveries each week to individual customer outlets throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Bottled water has been one of the fastest growing drinks sectors ever, with sales in the UK for example now worth five times what they were just 10 years ago.

On average, the body can breakdown alcohol at a rate of one unit per hour (depending on your weight, sex, age, metabolism, stress levels, amount of food eaten, medication taken and type of alcohol consumed).