EIGHT out of ten of Britain’s small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) don’t have a health and wellbeing strategy in place, a study has found.

Despite attitudes towards wellbeing in the workplace generally improving a whopping 82 per cent of SME business leaders confessed they don’t have a process in place.

Getty – Contributor

And while half said they would like to have one, little is being done.

The same research, which polled 1,500 employees at SMEs, found 67 per cent experience stress or anxiety related to their job.

And nearly half said they continue to “power through” even when feeling under the weather.

The study, also involving 200 business leaders, was commissioned by AXA PPP healthcare to highlight why health and wellbeing can no longer be ignored or treated as a “nice to have”.

It also emerged that just shy of a quarter of professionals don’t see a GP because they’re worried about taking time off work.

Speaking at the second instalment of the “AXA Growth Leaders Series”, hosted by The Supper Club, wellbeing expert and entrepreneur, Liz Earle MBE said not prioritising the health and wellbeing of employees is a real business risk.

“Whether you’re leading a multi-national organisation or a small start-up, your employees are the most valuable asset.

“Leaders who support and enable a wellbeing-focused workplace can enjoy a more productive and profitable business.

“It’s often been said that if you look after your people, they will look after your customers, which drives your bottom line.

“But it’s also important for business leaders to note that you can’t look after your employees – or your business – if you don’t look after yourself.

“Leading by example and embedding good wellbeing habits in the workplace is incredibly important.

“In small businesses leaders are often more visible among their team and can create the positive environment that helps their people thrive.”

‘One fifth feel guilty for taking a lunch break’

Nearly half of SME employees don’t feel like they have the time to look after their wellbeing, and a quarter are still reluctant to take a rest and recovery break for fear of letting the team down.

But it’s not just coughs and colds keeping hard-working adults from leaving their workload behind, as one fifth felt guilty for taking time away from their desk for lunch.

And more than a quarter send and receive emails outside of work hours, suggesting an “always on” mentality could be contributing to the mounting health issues experienced in small businesses.

AXA PPP healthcare chief executive Tracy Garrad said: “Burnout is now recognised by the World Health Organisation as an occupational phenomenon.

“It’s becoming a workplace epidemic that poses significant risks for small businesses.

“While it’s encouraging that 41 per cent of small business leaders polled said they’d like to have a health and wellbeing strategy, more needs to be done to move the dial and change perceptions about health and wellbeing measures being the sole preserve of larger organisations.

“The reality is small businesses make up more than half the UK’s total workforce and their employees are crying out for greater support.”

The study, conducted via OnePoll, also found just 15 per cent felt their company provides a culture which supports their mental health.

Despite 46 per cent agreeing they feel well informed of the health and wellbeing offering from their employer, just 22 per cent make the most use of these benefits.

And just 13 per cent feel the organisation they work for provides good benefits as part of a health and wellbeing strategy in the first instance.

Positively, nearly two-thirds of SME professionals working for an organisation with a health and wellbeing strategy in place agreed it’s showing significant improvement.

Half of employees reckon they would feel less stressed, and two-fifths would see an improvement in productivity, if a wellbeing strategy was introduced.

A further 35 per cent said it would boost their job satisfaction, with 22 per cent even saying it would make them more likely to stay at their job for longer.

The research also found additional holiday for length of service, flexible hours and private medical insurance were among the top priorities for staff at SMEs if they had the choice among other health and wellbeing benefits.

EJ Flynn, managing director of The Supper Club added: “We have found the founders who take the time to ask their teams what would make the greatest improvement to their health and wellbeing see better levels of engagement from their team, less absenteeism, greater retention of staff and greater productivity.

“The initiatives do not have to be really complicated, but they must be bespoke to your business.

“For instance, yoga and meditation may be right for one group, but flexible or remote working may be better suited to others.”

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9315305/employers-wellbeing-staff-stress/

WITH temperatures set to rise, lots of us are looking forward to an ice cold pint in the local pub garden.

But if you want your beer to stay nice and chilled, it makes a huge difference which brand you choose, according to new research.

Getty – Contributor

Researchers from FLIR used thermo technology to examine 15 popular beers and lagers and find out which ones stayed coldest after an hour.

If you prefer a lager – the best bet is Heineken which only rose by 3.3C in that time.

The worst option was Carling, which got 4.9C warmer.

If you prefer a pilsner then the coolest option is a Punk IPA which only rose by 3.1C

But the beer to avoid is a Jaipur, which got a whopping 5.2C warmer in just sixty minutes.

For stouts, the best brand to choose is London Pride, which was the chilliest of all the beers tested – only rising by 2.9C.

Doom Bar is another good alternative, only getting 3.1C warmer in the hour-long period.

You should try to avoid Guinness, which heated up by 5.1C – leaving you with a very warm pint.

To find the coldest draughts researchers cooled 15 different beers to 14C, before pouring them into a standard pint glass.

They then used a FLIR T1K HD thermal imaging camera to analyse how much the temperature rose over 60 minutes.

Physicist Helen Czerki explained the phenomenon. She said: “The bubbles, colour and foam in beer sound like tiny effects, but the physics in your glass has a direct influence on the experience of drinking it.

“As bubbles rise through any beer, they’ll drag the surrounding liquid up with them.

“Then when the bubbles get to the top, the liquid has to go back downwards in another part of the glass.

“These flows act to mix the drink, and it could affect the speed of warming.

“That means beers with larger,  frothy heads like Guinness will keep the flow going.”

But the University College London physicist did point out that there were other factors that could have an even bigger impact on the temperature of your pint.

She said: “If new beer is always being brought to the sides of the glass, there’s more of an opportunity for it to be warmed by the room.

“But the biggest factor could also be something that wasn’t measured here – the nice warm hands that you’re cradling your beer with.”

If you fancy trying something completely new, Kellogg’s is launching two new beers made from Rice Krispies and Coco Pops.

Or for a more nostalgic pint, head to supermarkets where iconic 70s beer Watneys is making a comeback.

If you’re a dad, make sure you’re taking advantage of these great Father’s Day offers for free booze or food.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 78 24516. Don’t forget to join the Sun Money’s Facebook group for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9305407/beer-study-reveals-coldest-pint/

ASDA has slashed the price of fuel by up to 4p from today thanks to a drop in wholesale costs.

The price cut means drivers filling up at an Asda petrol station will pay no more than 124.7p per litre on diesel and 123.7p per litre on unleaded petrol.

Alamy

It’s the second time in eight days that the supermarket has dropped prices – it cut them by up to 3p per litre on June 6.

So far, it’s the only supermarket to announce cuts but it’s expected that other supermarkets are likely to follow its lead.

Last time Asda announced lower prices, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s also cut costs just hours later.

May saw a global 4.3 per cent price increase on fuel compared to the year before, according to Asda’s Income Tracker, the fastest rise since November 2018.

Jack Cousens, head of road policy for the AA said: “While Asda show themselves to be a friend at the pumps, others drag their heels favouring the “rocket and feather” approach.

“Low income families who rely on their car need an affordable source of fuel.

“Providing intermittent minimum spend in store for a money off voucher are often out of reach for those who most need it.”

Asda is dropping fuel prices across all 322 of it’s filling up stations – you can find your nearest one here.

Until now, motorists have been hit with price hikes on fuel for four months in a row making petrol 11p a litre more expensive compared to February and diesel 7p pricier on average.

Petrol prices soared by 5p a litre earlier in April which was the biggest increase in 19 years.

The cost of filling up your car varies wildly across the UK with motorists in the South East of England forking out the most for fuel.

Last month we revealed the towns and cities in the UK where you can buy the cheapest fuel.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9292699/asda-cuts-fuel-prices-4p-per-litre-petrol-price-war/

TOPSHOP’S future lies in the balance as boss Philip Green desperately needs to win support for his survival plan at a meeting with creditors today.

Arcadia Group, the struggling company behind Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, and Wallis wants to use Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) in a bid to save it – but stakeholders will have to agree on plans first.

Alamy Live News

If they can’t agree, the business could fall into administration, the tycoon has reportedly told the BBC.

Creditors will vote on seven separate CVA proposals today, deciding the fate of 18,000 employees.

They first voted on the proposals last week, but after a knife-edge vote where some of the plans were rejected, Arcadia adjourned the meeting to today.

It is understood that only those proposals that didn’t receive enough support last week will be voted on again.

The first CVA meeting was adjourned after it became clear several landlords intended to vote against the plans, which include at least 23 store closures across the group.

A further 25 Miss Selfridge and Evans stores have also been earmarked for closure as part of a restructuring process that is separate to the CVAs.

In a bid to win support from landlords, Philip Green has proposed to impose less severe rent cuts than originally planned, from between 30 per cent to 70 per cent to a range of 25 per cent to 50 per cent.

‘The future of Arcadia is uncertain’

Chris Field, independent retail analyst and chairman of Retail Connections, told The Sun: “I think they’ll reject Philip Green’s current rescue deal and there will be more discussions, but at some point, the landlords and shareholders are going to have to accept some kind of a deal.

“The UK retail environment is still a difficult one and, inevitably, there will be some casualties as the High Street reinvents itself.”

“While the deal remains on a knife edge – and I do foresee the investors turning the knife on the deal – the outcome of Sir Philip’s retail empire is by no means certain.”

Speaking to the Press Association, one landlord said the Arcadia CVA plans are different to previous ones from House of Fraser and Debenhams because the smaller units would be easier to fill with new occupiers.

“There was some sympathy for Debenhams,” he said.

“Whereas here you’ve got a bigger pool of potential tenants. You’ve got more options so it’s easier to vote against it.

“Not that many people are that emotional about it. There’s no tears for Philip Green.”

It is understood that shopping centre owner Intu plans to vote against the rescue plans.

Without the backing of the property giant, which owns the Trafford Centre in Manchester and the Lakeside in Essex, the vote is set to be a close one for Arcadia.

PA:Press Association

In the Commons on Tuesday, Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst, answering a question from Labour’s Jenny Chapman, said: “We stand ready to do what we can along with my colleagues in MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) if closures occur.

“We are working with the Retail Sector Council and we’re committed to making sure we are working with the retail sector and high streets to make sure we can really truly grow our high streets and protect retail for the future.”

Retail tycoon Green is estimated to have lost his billionaire status with his fortune believed to have halved in a year amid a series of explosive scandals.

The Sunday Times Rich List has his fortune free-falling £1.05billion in a year to £950million because of a pension black hole in his “crumbling” Arcadia empire.

But the plummet still places Sir Philip and wife Tina at 156th on the list, down from joint 66th some 12 months earlier.

The Arcadia Group – which includes Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins – was valued as worthless in this year’s list, as the company copes with a pension debt which hit £565million.

The couple’s stake in the company was last year valued at £750million, while the compilers also removed £300million from their worth to allow the shoring up of the shortfall.

With his wealth peaking at almost £5billion in 2007, it is the first time in 17 years that Sir Philip has not been listed as a billionaire.

The devaluation comes after sustained criticism against Sir Philip and calls for him to lose his knighthood.

He was lambasted over the collapse of BHS, affecting 11,000 jobs, 19,000 pension holders and leaving a £571million in the pension scheme.

The businessman, who sold the department store chain to Dominic Chappell for £1 before it plunged into administration, agreed to pay £363million towards the deficit.

Sir Philip has also faced a slew of allegations, including of groping a female executive and making a racial slur at an employee.

The Croydon-born entrepreneur denied his behaviour was criminal or amounted to gross misconduct.

The Sun contacted Arcadia Group for a comment.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9275779/topshop-future-philip-green-rescue-plan/

CIDER fans can now get their hands on an unusual new parma violet and blackberry combination from Rekorderlig.

Tesco is the only supermarket selling the purple drink that sees pear cider blended with blackberry and infused with a hint of violet and juniper.

Rekorderlig

A 330ml bottle of the booze has an alcohol by volume (ABV) content of 4 per cent and is both gluten free and suitable for vegans.

It’ll set you back £2 for a bottle, although Tesco currently has an online offer where you can get three for £5.25 making it £1.75 a bottle.

We’ve asked the Swedish drinks manufacturer if this offer is also available in store and we’ll update this story if we get a response.

In the meantime, use Tesco’s store locator tool to find your nearest.

Rekorderlig

We’ve also asked how many calories is in a bottle and we’ll update this story as soon as we hear back.

An adult man should have around 2,500 calories a day while it’s 2,000 for a woman, according to NHS guidelines.

The drink is part of Rekorderlig’s posh “premium botanicals” range, which includes a rhubarb, lemon, and mint cider, a peach and basil cider cider, and a grapefruit and rosemary cider.

In comparison, Rekorderlig’s usual fruit-flavoured cider range costs more at £2.20 a bottle but these are a much larger 500ml – although they still have a 4 per cent ABV.

Parma violet is all the rage at the moment with Brothers launching a cider flavoured with it earlier this year.

Its 330ml version is a cheaper than Rekorderlig’s at £1.15 a bottle at B&M and it also has a 4 per cent ABV.

Tesco also has a parma violet gin liqueur for £14 a bottle, while Aldi has a purple glittery gin that tastes of violets for £9.99.

If you favour the unusual, then you can even get pork steak covered in parma violet sweets – but we’re not sure how we feel about this.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9258758/tesco-rekorderlig-cider-parma-violets-blackberries/

IT does not always pay to be loyal when shopping. Big names may be what you trust but they come with a mark-up.

This week, after a cereal recall, it was found Weetabix produces some “own-brand” offerings. And the firm behind the breakfast favourite is not the only major name making near-exact products for the big supermarkets.  Here is how to get savvy, and saving, with own-brands.

Getty – Contributor

1. BOWLED OVER: It is good to know Weetabix’s made-for-others products come with cheaper price tags. Weetabix Fruit And Fibre costs £1.29 for a 500g box at Poundstretcher, while Asda’s fruit and fibre costs £1.45 for 750g (19.3p per 100g or 96p for 500g) but the two are virtually identical. SAVING: 33p per 500g.
2. PAIN RELIEF: Feeling under the weather? You could be paying up to 16 times more for brand-name medicines that do exactly the same as the supermarkets’ own. Shoppers in Asda can buy a 14- tablet pack of Panadol Actifast paracetamol for £2.70 — that’s 19.3p per tablet. But they could buy 16 Asda paracetamol 500mg caplets for just 30p (1.9p a tablet). Both products contain 500mg of paracetamol. SAVING: 17.4p per tablet.
3. HULA-VA DIFFERENCE: The own-brand version of Hula Hoops at Aldi looks and tastes just like the original — because it is made by the same firm, KP Snacks. So why pay more? Aldi’s sell at 99p for ten 25g bags. Meanwhile, KP’s normally cost around £1.60 for a seven pack of 24g bags. SAVING: 61p –  plus three more BIGGER bags per multi-pack.
4. LIQUID GOLD: If buying custard, go own-brand at Tesco to make savings. Both Tesco ready-to-serve custard (39p for 400g) and favourite Ambrosia Devon Custard (99p for 400g at Tesco) are made by Premier Foods — but have big price differences. SAVING: 60p.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals/offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

DEBENHAMS has a fantastic sale on children’s toys right now. Get 20 per cent off Little Tikes’ easy store slide, now £68. Was £85.

SAVE: £17

Cheap treat

STOCK up your fridge at Sainsbury’s where a pack of six Coca-Cola original taste is down to £3 from £3.80, until Tuesday.

SAVE: 80p

My Sun Savers fiver

MAXINE STRONG from Ibstock, Leics, says: “I used my Sun Savers fivers to help with my daughter’s school trip.”

• Share your Savers fiver stories at sunsavers.co.uk/fivers and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Please include your name and town.

Top swap

BEAUTY fans are raving over Aldi’s £5.99 Lacura pink clay mask. They reckon it is just as good as Sand & Sky’s £39.90 version.

SAVE: £33.91

Reader’s saving tip

JUNE PEACOCK, from Bradford, says: “Use washing-up liquid and a bit of sugar to get oil and grease off your hands – it’s a lot cheaper than buying things like Swarfega.”

• Share your tips at sunsavers.co.uk/tips and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if your idea is used. Please include your name and town.

How do I get my FREE Shrek’s Adventure! London or London Dungeon tickets?

Simply download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk. Then click ‘Start Collecting’ on the ‘Shrek’s Adventure! London & the London Dungeon’ page found in the ‘Offers’ section.

© Mikael Buck / Shrek's Adventure

Make your family day out one to remember, with Superdays[/caption]

Next, collect NINE Sun Savers codes from the 18 printed daily in The Sun newspaper between Saturday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 18.

Lastly enter your NINE Sun Savers codes on the Sun Savers app or website to unlock booking.

Once you click ‘Book’ you will receive an e-mail with a unique booking code and steps on how to book a date and time at your chosen attractions website.

Or you can book by collecting TEN differently numbered tokens from the 18 printed daily in The Sun between Saturday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 18.

Then post your tokens back to us along with the booking form found in paper on Saturday, June 1 or online at superdays.thesun.co.uk. We will then e-mail you a unique booking code and steps on how to book a date and time at your chosen attractions website.

But for those who choose to collect for their free tickets with Sun Savers, you will get the chance to book a day earlier than everyone else, meaning you will get the very best choice of dates and times.

Dates and times are available for Shrek’s Adventure! London or the London Dungeon between Sunday, June 9 and Thursday, October 31.

Plus, if you want to make your day out even bigger, you will also have the chance to purchase additional tickets to the Coca-Cola London Eye for £10.00.

Claim a £10 Tesco voucher

SUN Savers has teamed up with Switchcraft – the hassle-free route to cheaper energy.  Not only will you save money on your energy bills but we will give you a free £10 Tesco voucher when you sign up and switch with Switchcraft.

The Switchcraft technology works 24/7 to keep you on a great plan. It compares energy prices so you never need to use comparison sites again.  For more choice, it checks the widest range of suppliers, including “Big Six” energy companies, independents and solar-powered operators.

From finding a new deal to telling your current supplier you want to switch, Switchcraft does the hard work for you. It takes just three minutes to sign up and you only need a few details to start.

When your deal comes to an end, Switchcraft emails you details of your energy plan. If you do not like it, you will not be switched and Switchcraft will find you a different option.  If you do like what is found, your switch is timed so you never pay exit fees.

Visit the offers section of Sun Savers to sign-up and get your free £10 voucher. You must be a Sun Savers member to get this great offer.  Not already a Sun Savers member? Then join Sun Savers today and you could get FREE cash just for picking up your favourite paper.

Sun Savers is our fantastic rewards club which gives readers the chance of getting free cash, treats and prizes. For every 28 Sun Savers codes you collect, we will give you a free fiver. Sun Savers codes are printed in the paper every day.

Find your Sun Savers code then enter it on our free app or sunsavers.co.uk. Once you have entered your 28th code, we will stick £5 in your wallet.  To get the Sun Savers app, go to the app store and search “Sun Savers”. Enter your name, date of birth and email to get started.

Play now to win £50,000 on The Sun Raffle

Play now to win £50k in the Sun Raffle.  JOIN thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Raffle today!

There is no limit to how many tickets you can collect.  So the more you enter, the better your chances.

To take part go to sunsavers.co.uk or open the Sun Savers app. Then opt in to each month’s Raffle by clicking “Yes!” when prompted and start collecting the Sun Savers codes printed daily in the paper.

Not yet a Sun Savers member? Just go to sunsavers.co.uk or find “Sun Savers” in the app store to get started.

Fancy a free fiver?

YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.

Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.

Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have ­collected 28.

This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.

For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.

We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.

Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at sunsavers.co.uk.

To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.

With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.

TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

 

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9248527/save-fortune-weekly-shop-own-brand/

INSURANCE giant Aviva has announced plans to axe 1,800 jobs over the next three years in a bit to save £300million a year.

That’s 6 per cent of its 30,000-strong global workforce.

Alamy

The jobs cuts affect staff worldwide – not just those in the UK.

But Aviva says it’s too soon to say how many UK roles this will impact or if it’s a particular part of the business that will see the biggest cuts.

Aviva says it’s consulting with trade union Unite on the job losses but adds that it wants to keep redundancies to a minimum “wherever possible”.

The news comes as the insurer says it needs to cut company costs by £300million a year by 2022.

It adds that it will also make savings by slashing the amount it spends on contractors and consultants.

Maurice Tulloch, Aviva’s chief executive officer, says the decision to cut jobs has not been taken lightly.

He said: “There are clear opportunities to improve. Reducing Aviva’s costs is essential to remain competitive and this means tough decisions and job losses which I do not take lightly.

“We will do all we can to minimise redundancies and support our people through this.”

The insurer has also announced plans to split its life and general insurance business in the UK to enable “stronger accountability and greater management focus”.

Aviva provides life insurance, general insurance, health insurance and asset management to 33million customers.

In the UK, one in four households is an Aviva customer.

The insurer’s profits before tax were up 6 per cent in 2018/19 compared to the previous year at £2,129million.

Its share price closed at £4.10 yesterday.

It’s been a tough year for businesses with many announcing job cuts this year.

Argos revealed just last month that hundreds of jobs were at risk after a shake-up of middle management roles.

While Jaguar Land Rover announced plans to cut 4,500 jobs.

And confectionery firm Fox’s Glacier Mints has revealed merger plans that could see 200 jobs axed and its factory shut down.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9233612/aviva-to-axe-thousands-jobs-over-next-three-years/

KOPPARBERG is launching pre-mixed cans of its new strawberry and lime pink gin with lemonade.

The 250ml tins are available on their own for £1.95 or in packs of four for £6 – although retailers can set their own prices.

You can get your hands on the tinnies, which are perfect for festivals and BBQs, from Asda today and in Morrisons from June 17.

They have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 5 per cent and contain 125 calories.

The tins cost more than Kopparberg’s strawberry and lime cider, which you can pick up for £4 at Asda for four 330ml cans at 4 per cent ABV.

Gordon’s also sells pink gin in 250ml cans at 5 per cent ABV but they cost less than Kopparberg’s at £1.70 for a single at Asda – the cheapest price at the major supermarkets.

Kopparberg

Meanwhile, Morrisons sells tins of Alfie pink gin and tonic for even less at £1 for a 250ml tin but these have a lower ABV at 4 per cent.

Just last month the Swedish cider company launched its first ever gin flavoured with strawberry and lime, which was followed by a mixed fruit version.

Both cost £20 for a 70cl bottle and have a much higher ABV of 37.5 per cent.

The strawberry and lime gin can be picked up in store only at Asda and Morrisons while the mixed fruit version is only in Asda stores.

You can also only buy the new tinnies in stores – use Asda and Morrisons store locator tools to find your nearest.

Rob Salvesen, head of marketing at Kopparberg, said: “The perfect serve of Kopparberg Premium Gin & Lemonade was designed to enhance the natural flavours of the gin and offer a taste profile sweet enough for a long, hot summer.”

Kopparberg says it’s too early to say if it’ll be launching a mixed fruit gin and lemonade in cans.

Sales of gin have tripled in the past 10 years and drinkers spent £461million on the spirit last year.

This is a rise of 32.5 per cent on the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

There are now thousands of different flavours of gin available.

These include a glittery rhubarb and rosehip gin liqueur in Tesco and a glittery pink unicorn gin that tastes of marshmallows from B&M.

Echo Falls has also launched a pink gin tasting of summer berries which is available to buy now.

If gin isn’t your tipple of choice, Malibu now has a pink lemonade ready-made cocktail in a can for sale for £1.80.

As always, please be Drinkaware.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9148934/kopparberg-new-pink-gin-lemonade-tin/

MORRISONS shoppers should check their cupboards for its own-brand fruit and fibre cereal as it’s been recalled due to fears some packs contain small pieces of plastic.

Manufacturer Weetabix has issued the urgent recall saying the presence of plastic makes the breakfast item unsafe to eat.

Affected batches have a pack size of 500g, a batch code of 9095, and a best before date of April 5 2020.

If you have bought the cereal, the Food Standards Authority (FSA) advises you not to eat it and to instead return it to store for a full refund.

Weetabix says you can do this with or without the receipt. Use Morrisons’ store locator tool to find your nearest.

The cereal normally costs £1.50.

You can also phone Morrisons’ customer service line for more information on 0345 611 6111.

Asda’s own-brand fruit and fibre cereal, which is again made by Weetabix, has also been recalled over the same concerns.

But Weetabix says no other Weetabix Food Company products are known to be affected.

Other recent recalls include McCain hash browns – also because they contain pieces of plastic.

And Poundstretcher chocolate bars over milk and nut allergy fears.

Parents have also been urged to not use a Baby Dunlopillo cot mattress as consumer group Which? warns it could suffocate tots.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/9203442/morrisons-fruit-and-fibre-cereal-recalled-plastic/

ALMOST a third of households who challenged their council tax band last year saw bills fall.

Council tax bills soar by an average of £78 this year for hard-up Brits but checking that you’re in the right band could save you a £1,000 a year.

Getty

New figures from the Valuation Office Agency show that 31 per cent – or 11,910 – of people who challenged theirs in 2018/19 saw their bills fall as a result.

The problem with banding dates back to 1991, when the new council tax system was launched and the Government needed to value every property in the UK – an estimated 400,000 homes are overpaying on their council tax.

The valuations were done quickly and not very well – meaning you could be paying more council tax than your neighbour, even though you live in the exact same sized property.

But know that challenging your band doesn’t always lower bills – 61 per cent of cases last year stayed the same and 0.8 per cent were unlucky enough to see them rise.

Here’s MoneySavingExpert’s step-by-step guide to seeing if your in the wrong band.

Getty – Contributor

Step One – the neighbours check

The most important step is to find out if you’re in a higher band than your neighbour.

If you don’t fancy the embarrassment of asking them – the information is publicly available.

Use the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England or the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) in Scotland to check your banding and your neighbours.

If they’re in a similar-sized property to you and in a lower band, then you may have a claim.

Be warned though – it might just mean all the other homes in the street are in the wrong band and could face higher bills as a result.

Step Two – the valuation check

You need to estimate how much your house was worth in 1991 and to do that first you’ll need to find out what your house is worth now.

If you bought your home after 1991 you can simply use that price and the date it was sold.

If you bought it or rented it before that you can use a website which offers historic price information such as Zoopla or Rightmove.

Then you can estimate how much your home was worth in 1991, by using MSE’s calculator.

It’s only a rough estimate but it’s important as it might be that your neighbours are in the wrong band and not you – so you could end up hiking their bills if you appeal.

Step Three – Are you in the wrong band?

Once you’ve done step one and two, you should be in a position to to decide if you’ve can make a legit challenge or not.

But MSE warns that you need to be extra careful as when you do claim as you can’t just ask for it be lowered.

Instead, the council will carry out a “reassessment” which means your band could move up as well as down. This could happen if you’ve added something to your property that increases its value, such as an extension.

Step 4 – Make your challenge!

If you’re sure you’re in the wrong band, then you can make a challenge.

To do so, you can contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) directly or via its website and you’ll be given the chance to explain why you think your paying too much.

In Scotland you can do this on the SAA website.

If you’ve been in your home more than six months, you might get told that you can’t challenge your banding but that’s not the case.

If your challenge is rejected and you’re unhappy with the decision you have three months to appeal.

If your successful, not only will you get lower payments going forward but a rebate from the moment you moved into the property – or from 1993.

What other help is available if I’m struggling to pay my council tax?

There is other help available if you want to try and cut your bills too.

Full-time students don’t need to pay any council tax at all and if you live alone you could qualify for a 25 per cent discount on your bills.

In a little-known scheme, if you live with someone who has a permanent condition that affects their intelligence or social functioning – something like Alzheimer’s or severe learning difficulties, you could also get a quarter off your bill.

And if you want to spread the cost of your payments a little further you can ask to make your payments over a full 12 months, rather than the usual 10.

More than 1.7million Brits are owed an average of £137 each in council tax refunds, according to new research.

---

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 78 24516

---

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/5190828/how-to-lower-your-council-tax-band-and-save-1000-a-year/