By Lucy Rouse: As several bars in Hanley announced plans this week to offer free soft drinks to drivers, StaffsLive took to the city’s only alcohol free bar and asked “Are nights out without alcohol the future?”
Retro Lounge opened last August and is proving popular with people looking for a different kind of night out.
The ‘dry bar’ only offers coffee, snacks and soft drinks but in the setting of a regular bar.
Co-Owner, Amber Shabbir, told BBC Stoke: “We want to change the mindset that you have to go out and …

By Samantha Lacey: The widely-used drug mephedrone, commonly known as ‘m-kat’, was made illegal today (April 16).
The drug, renowned for being a “legal high”, is thought to have played a part in 27 deaths in the UK and has serious side effects including nose bleeds, hallucinations, vomiting and paranoia.
Staffslive spoke to Staffordshire University students to get their opinion on whether the Government has done the right thing.
Sam Morris and Danny Milligan, both aged 20 said: “Mephedrone should definitely be illegal and the fact that it’s taken so long is ridiculous.
“We know a few people …

By Laura Martlew: The Potteries Shopping Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, is offering local registered charities the chance to apply for a donation from the shopping centre.
The shopping centre’s parent company, Capital Shopping Centre, has given the Potteries Shopping Centre money to donate to local charities.
Last year £10,000 was donated to eight charities, each receiving £1250 each.
Applications are welcomed from charities in the counties of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire.
Charities can apply to receive the donation by picking up an application in store or through the Potteries Centre website.
A committee will then look through the …

By Nicola Cousen: A community plot in Biddulph that encourages members to eat healthy and also provides them with a source of cheap food has been praised by Staffordshire University students.
Five pounds a year will buy an allotment at the Church Road Recreational Ground, and it is only one pound to join the gardening club.
The scheme has been funded by NHS North Staffordshire in a bid to promote healthy eating.
The allotments have been oversubscribed with residents wanting to grow their own carrots, cabbages and potatoes.
The garden costing £45,000 is …

By Rufaro Fielding: Police and headteachers collaborate in call for action to be taken on legal drug Mephedrone.
Following the recent deaths of teenage boys Louis Wainwright, 18 and Nicholas Smith, 19 – who died after taking the drug, Staffordshire Police say that people need to be made more aware of the potential dangers.
Peter Bate of Staffordshire Police, says: “It’s not a police matter yet, but in order to stop these sort of situations different agencies will have to come together to come to some sort of agreement.”
One problem is that …