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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