The Business - 19/07/2009

Graham Stewart looks at the future of the Scotch whisky industry following Diageo's plans to cut 900 Scottish jobs. Author of the Scotch Whisky Review, Alan Gray, gives us his analysis. Staying on alcohol, BBC Scotland's business editor, Douglas Fraser, explains the new licensing laws which come into effect in September and the obstacles the Scottish Government could face. Asda's chief operating officer, Andy Clarke, tells us how his stores have been tackling the problem of under-age drinking. And a report sponsored by McDonald's says that spending on "informal" eating out - pubs, coffee shops and fast food outlets - has fallen for the first time in 40 years. Not every part of the industry is doing badly though. Gordon Richardson, the founder and former owner of the coffee chain Beanscene, and Simon Wallis, senior marketing director of pizza chain Papa John's, tell us why there's cause for optimism.