NI brewers ‘let down’ by alcohol licensing laws
Alcohol licensing laws “need to change” It’s going to be a long, hot summer for alcohol brewers in Northern Ireland who say they feel let down by “restrictive” alcohol licensing legislation. The current law means local alcohol producers cannot allow their product to be sampled or sold where they are made, because breweries are not […]
Is my washing to blame for the plastic problem?
Getty Images Did you know that every time you do your washing you could be contributing to the world’s plastic problem? Take a look at your clothes labels. If they contain some sort of man-made fibres then studies show your clothes wash could be threatening the world’s seas. But there are ways of reducing the […]
Scotch in Trump’s trade crosshairs
Douglas Fraser Business and economy editor, Scotland Getty Images Scotch whisky has been drawn into US-European trade battles. It was bound to be so, as the uses and abuses of tariffs are Donald Trump’s signature foreign policy. It is Americans that pay the price of imposing tariffs on imports into the USA. Even if it […]
Retail sales hit lowest level since 2021 lockdowns
Dearbail Jordan Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images Shoppers bought less fuel and food in October as they were hit by rising living costs and poor weather, according to official figures. The volume of products sold last month fell by 0.3% to the lowest level since February 2021 when large parts of the UK were […]
PepsiCo sued by New York state for plastic pollution
Mariko Oi Business reporter New York State AG Picture of plastic pollution from the lawsuit filing by New York State Attorney General PepsiCo has been sued by New York state for plastic pollution along the Buffalo River that is allegedly contaminating the water and harming wildlife. According to the lawsuit, PepsiCo is the single largest […]
The spooky, seven-figure business of Halloween haunted houses
Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza Features correspondent Clown at Blood Manor haunted house Haunted houses were once the domain of grade-school fundraisers. Now, companies are pumping thousands – even millions – into building the stuff of nightmares. Once upon a time, you could have a haunted house up and running in a day’s time. Fill a bowl with […]
TV’s surprising new star
Jacqueline Schneider Features correspondent Whether in the kitchen or finance world, work-centric shows have rocketed in popularity. This entertainment is hitting the sweet spot for audiences in spades. In Carmen Berzatto’s frantic kitchen at The Bear, you can slice through the tension with a butter knife. While the Roy siblings tussle for power at Waystar […]
Why Americans may spend $12bn on Halloween in 2023
Brennan Doherty Features correspondent Consumers love to spend big during spooky season. Even amid economic uncertainty, money won’t stop flowing. People around the world spend plenty on Halloween, but the holiday’s economic impact in the US is staggering. Across the US, the National Retail Foundation (NRF) expects 2023’s Halloween spending to hit a record $12.2bn, […]
Guinness’s new Irish rivals
Brad Cohen Features correspondent A stout from the Galway Bay Brewery in Galway, Ireland. Since Arthur Guinness first started brewing stout in the late 18th Century, very few other breweries have successfully produced the beer in its ancestral home – until now. Inside the Galway Bay Brewery in Galway, Ireland, a tiny batch of imperial […]
The hidden private experiences of the travel elite
Elizabeth Garone Features correspondent Getty Images (Credit: Getty Images) Today’s mega-rich now crave unique and often unusual luxury experiences over expensive items. And these people are more than ready to cater to them – for a fee. Everyone has limits. That includes Steve Sims, founder of Bluefish, an exclusive Los Angeles-based luxury concierge service catering […]