In short, the perfect drink for an increasingly affluent society looking to drink away Prohibition.

FORBES: Smirnoff

Our worst short pick was energy drink company Hansen Natural: It had the temerity to rise 40% since we called it a loser.

FORBES: Report Card

Mr McLetchie said an essential part of rehabilitation was assisting prisoners to tackle their problems with drink and drug addictions and education short falls as part of "the road to redemption and rehabilitation".

BBC: Lib Dems: Prisons debate

"As a short-term means we recognised that quite a lot of our youngsters were joining the queue just to get a drink or sweets, " said Mr Hughes.

BBC: Paying for lunch has gone hi-tech in seven Wrexham schools

But in the short term the only bright spots were America and in France, where a campaign to promote cognac as a long drink (with tonic, which is not, unlike soda water or ginger ale, really a natural accompaniment) raised sales for the second year running.

ECONOMIST: Spirits