The British Beer and Pub Association said earlier this month that around 117 million fewer pints were drunk compared with the same period a year ago.

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But in 1999 he was seriously injured after driving drunk and crashing into a bridge, leading to another period of rehabilitation.

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Dealing with Ranger's previous convictions for drink-driving, battery and being drunk and disorderly, Mr Forrester said they happened within a six-week period in autumn 2011, and that the battery offences for which he was given 12-month conditional discharge happened when he struggled with police having been racially abused in the street by others.

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