Latest news with #booze
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Pop star to launch own range of booze and soft drinks as he enjoys global success
MUSIC star Sam Fender is hoping to toast his global success with his own range of booze. And he's also eying plans to knock out Fender-branded chocolates, plus clothes, temporary tattoos and jewellery. The Geordie star has been granted permission by the UK's Intellectual Property Office to use his name to sell a range of goods. Papers reveal he can now sell alcohol and soft drinks using his name. The documents reveal he can market 'Beers, Alcoholic beverages, and Non-alcoholic beverages; Retail services connected to the sale of Beers, Alcoholic beverages, Non-alcoholic beverages, Mineral and aerated waters, Fruit beverages and fruit juices.' The application will stay in place for ten years now that it has been rubber-stamped. An intellectual property lawyer who has seen the papers told us: 'The trademark enhances his capacity to take action against unauthorised third parties that might use his name for commercial purposes. 'Simply having these trademarks registered can serve as a significant deterrent to any third party contemplating the unauthorized use of the name. 'Moreover, it enhances his prospects for commercialising his brand. "Being a major star, he is likely to seek opportunities to license these trademarks to partners, generating revenue through royalties in the process.' 1
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stranger's Tale Of Addiction: Moving From Test To Testimony
'Dad took me in, and Mom will eventually kick me out,' he told me. I didn't know him, but he spoke as if I had heard his stories a hundred times, maybe even lived through a few of them with him. 'It was a tough age, you know,' he continued. 'I left home after high school only to return in my twenties. Here I was, staying in my old room — the same one I grew up in. Only this time, I should have been a grown-up visiting, not unpacking to stay.' 'Did things improve once you settled in back home?' I asked. 'Depends on who you ask,' he said. 'Life improved for me because I had a place to live rent-free, which left me more money to buy booze.' 'Did you drink a lot?' I asked. He laughed. 'Lady, there wasn't a day I didn't drink.' He took a sip of water and started talking once more. 'I got drunk everywhere I went. Most days, I didn't care if it was day or night. I was just killing time until something new came along.' 'Something new?' I asked. 'Yeah, something to carry me or steer me to my next adventure. Every day was a new life. I was like a piece of trash blowing in the wind… life stunk but I didn't have enough self-awareness to realize the stink was coming from me.' He adjusted the ballcap on his head. 'Like I said, I woke up in a different world every day. Sometimes, it was a new job; other times, a new woman. Neither lasted long.' 'How did your parents respond to you living under their roof again?' I asked. 'Well, Mom grew up on summers of sweet corn and fireflies, so she didn't understand depression — she just thought I was ungrateful.' 'And your dad?' I asked. 'Dad grew up like I did, with an alcoholic father,' he said. He shifted in his seat, gulped the last of his water, and waved at the waiter to bring him another. 'I'm sorry,' I said. 'Don't be. That train wreck stops with me. I'm not having kids.' 'Because you don't want them?' 'I love kids. I just know I'd mess them up. I can barely take care of myself. Not to mention, women my age aren't impressed with a grown man living with his parents.' I waited too long to ask my next question. 'See, you know I'm right,' he said. 'What the heck is taking the waiter so long to get another glass of water?' I didn't know how best to jump back into this conversation. The man was agitated, but I wasn't sure exactly why… I just knew it started somewhere between him being a boy and becoming a man. 'You aren't drinking now, it appears. Are you sober?' I asked. 'Sobriety is a funny thing. I can start getting drunk long before I've started a tab. I know going into a bar that I won't leave sober. So, I've stopped going into bars, but that don't mean I'm no longer a drunk.' 'I think I know what you mean,' I said. 'I doubt it. Until you've learned to love yourself more than you love your addiction, you don't know the struggle. The hardest thing in this world is learning to love yourself where you're at while keeping an eye on the man you want to be. You got to know where you're headed.' 'And where are you headed?' I asked. For the first time, he gave me a hint of a genuine smile. He was suddenly handsome, and I saw someone I had not seen before… maybe even someone I'd have been friends with long ago. 'Where am I headed? I guess that's the question for us all, isn't it? I'm hoping to be headed to the same place you are,' he said. He caught my curiosity. 'And where am I headed?' 'Well, you're headed to Heaven. You've got Jesus living inside you so much that your soul shines through your eyes,' he said. 'I'm praying that the good Lord takes me there too, not because of what I've done, but despite what I've done.' 'Do you believe you're saved?' I asked. The waiter brought him another glass of water, and he sat for a moment before taking a sip. I couldn't help but think that even though we sat at separate tables, our meeting was intentional. 'It's like this glass. There was a time when it would be filled with vodka instead of water. I'd drink to become more friendly, even to myself. That is, until I wasn't. I was walking dead… numb and so disappointed in myself that the only thing I wanted to do was to forget — anything and everything. Now, I work daily at substituting liquid death with the bread of life. The only one who's ever given me a real reason to be here is Jesus.' 'And what's that reason?' I asked. 'To push through in faith, to trust God more than myself, another, or any manufactured form of courage. I believe God spared me to elevate me to a level that only He could've created. It would have been easy to get rid of me. Heck, I'm still a bit of a mess, but I'm saved and walking — hands shaking and sometimes cussing a little — but Jesus knows my story so well that nothing surprises Him. He knows it all. He's seen what I'll never share and what I still try to forget. And yet, He still pursues me. Why would I chase death when life Himself is coming for me?' He finished his third glass of water and stood to leave. 'Thank you for your time,' he said. 'I didn't think talking would come this easy, but I also had a feeling when I saw you that it wouldn't be hard. Don't know why that is exactly, but thank you.' I rose as well. 'Thank you. I appreciate your honesty and your sharing your testimony.' 'Testimony? Is that what I just did… shared my testimony? Well, that's a first. Lady, I don't think you realize how high of a compliment you just gave me.' I didn't even catch his name. But I guess I didn't need to know who he was to receive what God wanted me to hear. You see, I came to the café that day to get away from the overwhelming stress that had been weighing me down. I needed some time to hear myself think. Instead, God shut the defeating clang of my complaints and opened my heart. I left filled with the testimony of a stranger: I don't go anywhere alone; God knows all, and I'm still in His care. Tests will eventually become testimonies, life is messy, and my faith will be strengthened in the trials. I will praise Him for what He has done, is, and will do. Lord, thank You for being both the Living Water and the Bread of Life in this wilderness. May I see others and love them as You love, and may I also exhibit care and kindness to myself as You have shown to me, not because of anything I've done but despite what I've done. Thank You, Christ Jesus. I love You. This column was initially published by CherryRoad Media. ©Tiffany Kaye Chartier.
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Look to your pantry for a sweet, salty and sour virgin margarita
Though there's no shortage of exceptional ice-cold nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy on a hot summer day, there are times when it feels like nothing but a frosty margarita will do. It's been over a decade since I broke up with booze, and while I don't miss the alcohol, hangovers or stupid ideas that flood my brain when tequila enters my bloodstream, I do miss all the other things that make margaritas special: the tart jolt of fresh lime, the undercurrents of bitter orange and agave, the playful smack in the mouth from a salt-coated rim.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Saudi Arabia to lift booze ban at 600 tourist locations by 2026 in bid to lure in holidaymakers ahead of World Cup
SAUDI Arabia will lift its long-standing booze ban at 600 tourist sites by 2026 — in a boozy bid to attract visitors ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup and 2030 Expo. In a shock U-turn, the ultra-conservative Kingdom will allow the sale of wine, beer, and cider at licensed locations including five-star hotels, luxury resorts, and expat-friendly compounds. 5 5 Booze will still be banned in public, homes, shops, and fan zones — with spirits off the menu altogether under strict new rules. The dramatic policy shift is part of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's Vision 2030 drive to boost international tourism, lure foreign cash and shake off its teetotal image. Officials hope controlled alcohol sales in glitzy areas like Neom, Sindalah Island and the Red Sea Project will help the country compete with Gulf rivals like the UAE and Bahrain — where boozing is already legal in tourist zones. Licensed venues will operate under a tightly regulated system, with trained staff and strict rules to prevent abuse and uphold the Kingdom's Islamic values. The goal, authorities said, 'is to welcome the world without losing cultural identity — positioning Saudi Arabia as a progressive, yet respectful player on the global tourism map.' The plan is set to roll out in 2026 — eight years before the World Cup kicks off — and comes amid growing pressure to modernise the Kingdom's image. Several global hotel chains are already rejigging their blueprints to accommodate booze zones, with tourism bosses eyeing a flood of new jobs and international investment. It follows a dry storm earlier this year when Saudi's ambassador to the UK announced alcohol will be banned entirely at the 2034 World Cup, sparking fury among England fans. Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud told LBC radio in February: 'There is no alcohol at all, rather like our weather, it's a dry country. "Everyone has their own culture. We're happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture but we don't want to change our culture for someone else. 'It is not a Saudi event, it is a world event and, to a large extent, we will welcome everyone who wants to come.' Fan Tim Bailey fumed on X: 'Their country, their rules. But why the f*** would anyone want to go there anyway?' One supporter added: 'Weird . . . they always want everyone else to change their culture for them.' But now, Saudi insiders hope the new booze policy will silence critics and show the country is ready to party — with limits. 5 5 Sources say the model is inspired by successful alcohol rollouts in Dubai and Manama, where tight control has boosted tourism and business without trashing tradition. The Kingdom insists this will not be a free-for-all — and anyone caught misusing the system will face swift consequences. 'Sales will only happen under controlled environments, with licensed service staff and clear operational rules in place to make sure alcohol is handled responsibly and respectfully,' a government statement read. Spirits and hard liquor above 20% ABV will remain banned, with no sign of shops, takeaways or home brewing being permitted. Why is alcohol banned in Saudi Arabia? ALCOHOL is banned in Saudi Arabia because the country's legal system is based on Islamic law, or Sharia, which strictly prohibits the consumption, sale, and possession of alcohol. This ban stems from Islam's teachings, particularly the Qur'an, which considers intoxicants to be haram, or forbidden. Verses in the Qur'an warn against the use of alcohol, culminating in a clear directive for believers to avoid it altogether. Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism, which enforces these religious prohibitions through law. As a result, producing, importing, or drinking alcohol is illegal and punishable by harsh penalties, including fines, imprisonment, deportation for foreigners, and formerly, public flogging. The ban is also deeply rooted in the country's conservative social norms, where alcohol is associated with immoral behavior and societal disruption. The ruling Saudi royal family also relies on support from the religious establishment, and maintaining the alcohol ban reinforces their political legitimacy and alignment with Islamic values. While recent reforms under the Vision 2030 initiative are pushing for modernization, including a controlled rollout of alcohol sales in tourist areas from 2026, the core prohibition remains firmly in place to preserve cultural and religious identity.
