Convenience stores, Everyday drinking, Older apprentices

Available for over a year

More and more local grocery stores are opening in Britain, as shoppers move away from the weekly "big supermarket shop" to more regular trips to a convenience store. A new report says there are now more than 51,000 local grocery shops in Britain, with more opening every week. Most are independently owned and run, but the big supermarkets are keen to increase their share of an expanding market. Think "apprentice" and you might naturally imagine a school leaver, taking their first steps into work. But increasing numbers of older people are now taking up apprenticeships. Over the last five years the number over 60 has risen fivefold and apprentices over 45 now make up ten per cent of the total. After a recent edition of Call You & Yours, we were contacted by many listeners describing how their everyday social drinking had very gradually become a problem, often increasing slowly over the course of many years. We hear from one listener who feels unable to reduce her daily drinking and is concerned about the future effect on her health. You & Yours has reported recently how charities and other organisations share the personal details of their donors and customers. There are concerns over whether enough care is being taken to ensure they have gained consent. We hear the experience of one listener as she follows the trail of her personal information from one organisation to the next. Producer: Jonathan Hallewell Presenter: Winifred Robinson.