Union booze
Several universities have renamed freshers’ week ‘welcome week’ in an attempt to dissociate it from heavy drinking. How much do students drink?
– A survey last year by the group Students Organising for Sustainability found that 81% regard drinking and getting drunk as part of university culture.
– 53% reported drinking more than once a week.
– 61% said they drink in their rooms or with other students before going out for the night to a pub or club.
– 51% said that they thought getting drunk would ensure they had a good night out.
– 13% said they took illegal drugs.
Round the houses
Councils are to be allowed to charge more council tax for second homes. How many second homes are there in England?
– There are 3.335m properties reported to be used as second homes.
– However, 2.308m of these also serve as someone else’s main home.
– 191,000 second homes are intended to be sold, or to be moved into, in the near future.
– 27,000 have been bought for students, and are being used as their home while at university.
– 809,000 are used as second homes.
Source: English Housing Survey
Pump it up
Do UK motorists get a fair deal on fuel? Price of a litre of petrol in EU countries in June, in pence. Includes taxes:
HIGHEST
Denmark 167.80
Finland 166.20
France 161.50
Greece 161.40
Germany 159.90
LOWEST
Bulgaria 111.10
Malta 115.20
Romania 117.30
Cyprus 118.80
Slovenia 121.60
Source: Dept for Energy Security and Net Zero
Green light
Renewables were reported to have generated a record 47.8% of Britain’s electricity in the first quarter of this year. How did that break down?
Onshore wind 13%
Bioenergy (includes landfill gas) 11.3%
Offshore wind 9.2%
Solar 2.3%
Hydro 2.1%
Source: Dept for Energy Security and Net Zero
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