Higher gas prices, which have surged by about 52 percent since the start of the Iranwar, are draining demand for beer as American consumers continue to tighten discretionary spending, according to new data.

Beer, malt beverage and cider sales volumes fell 6.3 percent in the four weeks ending May 2, Nielsen reports. The steepest declines came from convenience stores and gas stations such as 7-Eleven, Wawa, Shell, and Exxon, where volumes are down about 9 percent year over year for the two weeks since April 26.

This is a clear step down from earlier in the year, when declines were only around 3 percent between November and mid-April, according to the data, as fuel costs weigh on impulse purchases.

“We find a negative correlation between the absolute price of gas in a given state today and the sequential change in beer/FMB/volume growth,” Bernstein analyst Nadine Sarwat told CNBC.

California saw the biggest drop in beer sales in the country, with volumes falling 16 percent, according to Nielsen. The decline lines up with the state’s persistently high gas prices, which average about $6.147 per gallon, driven by higher taxes and stricter fuel rules requiring a special cleaner-burning blend.

Outside of California, Arizona and Texas also saw notable declines in beer sales, down about 10 percent and nearly 7 percent, respectively, over the same period.

At the same time, the Midwest is taking the brunt of soaring gas prices in the country amid the Iran-related oil shock, with Ohio leading the increase at roughly 72 percent since the conflict began 10 weeks ago, about double California’s rise, according to Bloomberg. Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin are also seeing steep jumps as fuel inflation spreads across the region.

Analysts say convenience stores are especially affected because they depend on commuter traffic and impulse purchases, both of which are slowing as average U.S. gas prices hover around $4.52 per gallon and have risen around 52 percent since the start of the Iran war, according to AAA data.

The surge in gas prices also comes at a time when younger generations are consuming less alcohol than their elders. A Gallup survey from August found only about 50 percent of adults ages 18 to 34 drink, down from 59 percent in 2023.

That decline is helping push the national drinking rate to a record-low 54 percent, with many respondents pointing to health concerns as a key reason for cutting back or avoiding alcohol.

For the first time in Gallup’s data, a majority of Americans, 53 percent, said moderate drinking is bad for health, up from 45 percent a year ago and 28 percent in 2018. Just 6 percent say it’s beneficial, while 37 percent say it makes no difference.

A small medical plane crashed in a mountainous region outside Ruidoso, New Mexico, before dawn on Thursday, killing all four individuals aboard and igniting a wildfire in the surrounding forest, officials confirmed.

The blaze quickly expanded to 35 acres amid dry, windy conditions by midday, according to Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns.

Burns expressed significant concern about the fire, noting that local agencies were collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service to contain it.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.

The aircraft was located between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday in steep, rocky terrain within the Capitan Mountains, a site so challenging to access that crews had to hike the final half-mile to reach it, Burns stated.

The victims were identified as flight crew and medical personnel, though their names have not yet been released.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, loved ones, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” Burns said at a news conference.

The flight, operated by Trans Aero MedEvac, had departed from Roswell Air Center and was en route to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport.

The company reported the plane overdue after communications and radar contact were lost during its medical transportation mission.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the incident.

Trans Aero MedEvac has been operating in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas since 1966.

Ruidoso, a mountain town with a year-round population under 8,000, is situated at the base of south-central New Mexico’s Sierra Blanca range.

The surrounding area, including Lincoln National Forest, is heavily forested and rural. This incident echoes a previous tragedy in 2007, when five people died after a medical plane crashed in the Devil’s Canyon area of Lincoln National Forest shortly after departing Ruidoso Regional Airport for Albuquerque.

Nationally, NTSB records indicate 25 fatal medical plane crashes over the past 25 years, resulting in nearly 70 deaths.

Recent incidents include a jet crash in a Philadelphia neighborhood in January 2025, which killed eight people, and an August crash on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona that claimed four lives.

In December, a Mexican Navy plane carrying a young patient and seven others crashed off the Texas coast in the Gulf.

Despite these incidents, aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA crash investigator, asserts that medical evacuation plane flights are generally no more dangerous than other flights, as they operate between airports like any commercial aircraft.

He distinguishes this from medical helicopter flights, which he notes are more hazardous due to frequent landings on roads or improvised sites to quickly transport injured individuals.

A study covering a 20-year period ending in 2020 found that over 70% of air medical fatalities occurred on helicopters.

“Typically when an air medical air plane accident occurs, the reasons are usually the same as any other airplane accident. There’s not unique issues with the air medical mission,” Guzzetti explained.

Kyle O’Callagan slapped Marcus Carpenter while dragging his lifeless body around in what was described by a judge as a ‘vain hope of reviving him’

A killer dragged a man’s body and slapped him to the face after knocking him unconscious with a punch and causing him a catastrophic brain injury that would cause his death. The shocking attack was caught on camera after the victim was asked to “have a “word” outside by his killer, before he was punched in the face.

Kyle O’Callaghan, 30, punched Marcus Carpenter, 37, outside the Picture House pub in Ebbw Vale on February 21, after he had asked his victim to ‘Do you want to come outside and have a word with me a minute?’. Both men walked to an alleyway outside the pub, where O’Callaghan punched Mr Carpenter to the face.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard they continued talking for a couple of minutes before Mr Carpenter tried to walk away, but the defendant grabbed his fleece and punched him a second time, causing him to snap his head back onto railings. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

In his sentencing remarks to the court, Judge Williams described the lead up to the fatal attack, and O’Callaghan’s callous actions after delivering the blow.

The judge said: “Marcus Carpenter went out on Friday, February 20, to the Picture House Wetherspoons in Ebbw Vale. You (Callaghan) came into the pub later that evening, you headed to the table where Mr Carpenter and his friends were. You recognised one of his friends from him working at a pub in Tredegar.

“You then approached Mr Carpenter and asked who he was, he told you his name and you said ‘Do you want to come outside and have a word with me a minute’.

“You say in your pre sentence report you had heard Mr Carpenter had been saying things about you to other people. You’re very quick to think you have been wronged by others, whatever the truth of the situation.

“Mr Carpenter went outside with you. There didn’t appear to be any bad feeling between the two of you.

“What happened outside the pub was caught on CCTV, you were spoiling for a fight, you felt disrespected.”

Judge Williams continued: “Shortly after leaving the pub you punched Mr Carpenter, it was needless. You continued to behave in an overbearing, aggressive, and animated way towards Mr Carpenter, who at no stage was physical, let alone aggressive, towards you but you were determined to harm Mr Carpenter whatever he did and however uninterested he was in engaging with you.

Advertisement

“Mr Carpenter had his arms to his side when you delivered the final sickening blow, which caused his head to snap backwards, striking the railing. It caused blood vessels to tear which led to bleeding within the brain and ultimately to Mr Carpenter’s death.

“You tried to get Mr Carpenter up, you treated his lifeless body without an ounce of care, concern, or dignity. You dragged him about and slapped him in the vain hope of reviving him.

“Your panic was driven, and driven only, by self preservation. Your selfishness seems limitless.

“When others made proper attempts to help Mr Carpenter, you were long gone.”

The court heard O’Callaghan returned to the pub and told Mr Carpenter’s friend Gethin Williams “I can’t wake him up, he’s not moving. Get him up for me.”

When Mr Williams confronted the defendant and asked him what he had done, the defendant fled the area.

Security staff attempted to provide medical treatment to Mr Carpenter.

The emergency services were called and paramedics arrived at 12.22am on February 21.

Mr Carpenter was taken by Air Ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he received urgent medical attention in an attempt to save his life.

Mr Carpenter was found to have suffered an “extensive and devastating” brain injury.

Some days later, it was established that Mr Carpenter displayed no signs of brain activity and he was declared dead on February 24.

A cause of death was given as hypoxic brain injury through lack of oxygen, an out of hospital cardiac arrest and traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage.

O’Callaghan was identified and arrested on February 24 at an address in Rhymney.

He attempted to escape but was detained on window sill.

During his police interview, he claimed Mr Carpenter became aggressive and reacted by striking him once to the face.

He said he was acting in self defence, and struck him in order to protect himself and create space.

The defendant told officers he was “shocked and distressed” to learn of Mr Carpenter’s death.

O’Callaghan has been sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment, with an extended licence period of four years.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.

Council leaders have praised the work of the officials formerly in charge of the local authority, who helped draw up the initial idea for the major redevelopment several years ago. 

At the heart of the transformation is not just a shiny entrance building, as the current council leader put it, but better connectivity between the Tees Valley and the rest of the country. 

Significant work has taken place since the first spade entered the ground four years ago to ensure Darlington’s new transport hub is fit for the future. 

(Image: PETER REIMANN)

The £140m redevelopment has added two new platforms to the station alongside a new eastern concourse and entrance and a multi-storey car park for more than 650 cars.  

The idea was tabled up to 20 years ago amid growing concern that the station could be downgraded, meaning it could lose mainline services. Darlington is a key station along the East Coast Main Line, but the station’s platform and track layout have previously hindered any chances of improvements. 

“There was huge concern about the impact it would have on Darlington and the Tees Valley with fewer trains travelling here, reducing the number of people visiting for business or visiting friends and family,” said Steve Harker, council leader. 

After several meetings in the corridors of power at Westminster, the then council leader Bill Dixon successfully ensured the railway station was not under threat. “Clearly, the work they did provided the initial building blocks to where we are today,” added Cllr Harker. 

From early on in the building work, politicians said the project will boost the town’s image as the “gateway to the Tees Valley”, with the region’s mayor saying it could replicate the model seen at London’s Kings Cross station.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “For a long time, the station has been neglected and we need to make sure when people get off the train, whether it’s visiting for tourism or business, we set the right impression from the first moment – and Darlington station is going to play a key role in that.”

The overhaul is also intended to improve reliability and capacity on the East Coast Main Line, improving the frequency and reliability of trains along the line and across the region. 

Speaking on the eve of the opening, Cllr Harker told a council meeting: “The main benefits of the new station are not so much the shiny building, which is very visible and large, it is the changes that have been made to the platforms and track in and around the station. 

“As a result, there is a much greater capacity for mainline services, allowing more trains to stop at the station. Equally important for the Tees Valley is that it will allow for much more frequent and regular services into the region.”

The first opening of the redeveloped station comes a year after the historic 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, when numerous events were held to celebrate the region’s important role in the life of the railway. 

Cllr Harker added: “We have a new station that is fit for the future and signifies the importance of Darlington and the Tees Valley on the rail network and the wider country.”

This is a very nice way to prepare plaice. It’s OK grilled and nice tranches are good roasted on the bone, but I don’t think anything can beat it cooked in breadcrumbs. This somehow brings out the best in this fish. The acidity and texture of a good chunky tartare sauce makes a perfect foil. 

Plaice start to become good around May and they get fatter and juicier as the year goes on, well into August. If you can get a fillet from a kilo-plus-sized fish you can cut it into four portions. I think these are the best.

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our
articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local
services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local
community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need
as much support as possible during these challenging times.

The importance of bees for pollinating wild plants and crops is well known. If we lose the bees, we lose our food. But this is only part of the picture. Bees also support a hidden network of other species, sometimes as mutual partners, sometimes as prey, sometimes as other unwilling victims.

Many organisms depend on bees for survival, and many of these interactions are not mutually supportive. Some predators focus on bees, for example bee wolves (Philanthus triangulum), capture bees to feed their young in their underground nests.

Crab spiders, also known as the white death spider, are often found camouflaged on the top of flowers. They wait for bees to sip on some nectar and then the spider consumes the bee, and afterwards vomits the corpse back up.

It’s not just insects, vertebrates depend on bees too. Birds such as bee‑eaters and great tits, as well as some species of bat consume bees as part of their diet, while badgers and foxes often raid nests for larvae and honey. And, of course, humans have been eating honey from before there were written records.

Playing host to unwelcome guests

Around 40% of animals are actually parasites and bees support a wide range of these species. The wingless fly Braula coeca, sometimes referred to as the bee louse, lives on honey bees, feeding on their secretions. Though small, these parasites are a constant presence in some colonies.

Another parasite, Sphaerularia bombi, the nematode (a type of worm-like creature), enters bumblebee queens during hibernation. Once inside they inflate, filling much of the queen’s body. When she emerges in the spring, this queen has been neutered by the parasite and is no longer able to find a new family. She instead just acts as a vehicle to spread the parasite to new sites.

Some bees need other bees to help them survive. Cuckoo bees infiltrate the nests of bumblebees. After they gain access they suppress the bumble bee queen and force her workers to raise their young.

Invading the lives of bees

Sometimes parasitic interactions go one step further and ultimately kill the bee by spending part of their lifecycle within their host. Strepsiptera are an unusual insect, which most people may not have heard of. Stylops are one genus of Strepsiptera which live in the abdomens of bees, visible only by a small protrusion in the abdomen. But when it is time for Stylops to mate they explode from the abdomen of their bee host, killing it.

Bee flies definitely deserves a mention, as they bear a striking resemblance to bees. In the UK, species such as Bombylius major dance around flowers with their fuzzy, bee‑like bodies. While the adults are harmless and actually serve a role as pollinators themselves, their larvae are parasitoids of solitary mining bees. Parasitoids are defined as those that live on (or in) their host eventually killing it, a subset of parasites. The females flick their eggs into the entrances of bee nests and when they hatch, the larva consumes bee eggs or young larvae before feeding on the pollen stores.

Using bees to hitch a ride

Some species just use bees for transport. Mites such as Chaetodactylus attach themselves to solitary bees in order to travel between nests. Their larvae however, are less benign. They greedily consume the pollen stores of nests, occasionally eating eggs.

Perhaps even weirder however are the trigulins (or larvae) of blister beetles. These often cluster around flowerheads. They wait for bees, only to then climb on board for a free ride – using them as a free taxi to a nest where they feed on its contents with a particular fondness for bee eggs.

Pseudoscorpions are a distant relative of scorpions. They bear a striking resemblance to true scorpions, but these instead of carrying a sting in their tail, use the bee for a free ride. Hanging on to the bees with their pincers they use the bees as a taxi, but in their case just as a way to save energy on long-distance travel.

In the end, bees – whether they are solitary bees, mining bees, honey bees or bumble bees – are far more than pollinators. They support a much wider ecosystem. Countless other organisms rely on bees as hosts, prey, transport, or providers of food and shelter every day. Without bees we would not only lose those plants they pollinate but also those animals that need the bees to feed them and help them reproduce.

From hidden coves on the Durham coast to wide, remote sands in Northumberland, the region has a scattering of under-the-radar beaches where visitors can enjoy fresh sea air, long walks and a far more peaceful atmosphere than at the busier seaside favourites.

Hawthorn Hive

Hawthorn Hive on the Durham Heritage Coast is one of the region’s best hidden spots. It has a rugged, secluded feel that makes it popular with walkers and photographers rather than crowds of day-trippers.

One visitor described the wider coastal walk to Hawthorn Hive as “a cracking walk with lots of variety and interest,” while another said the views along the cliffs were “some of my favourite views on the County Durham coast.”

Easington Beach

Easington Beach in County Durham offers a more open, understated seaside experience.

It suits longer walks and quiet visits, with visitors tending to favour it for the space and the natural setting rather than any resort-style facilities.

The wider East Durham coast is often praised for its “scenic and atmospheric feel”, giving this stretch of shoreline a “quiet charm”.

For people looking for a low-key escape to the coast, it is an easy place to spend a slow afternoon.

Horden Beach

Horden Beach has a similarly relaxed atmosphere and remains one of the less obvious choices for a North East beach day.

It does not have the polish of some better-known seaside destinations, according to visitors, but that is part of its appeal for visitors who prefer somewhere simple and uncrowded.

It is the kind of beach that works best for a peaceful wander rather than a packed family day out.

That local, stripped-back feel gives it a quieter character that many visitors are looking for, or that’s what people online are saying.

Gordon’s Bay

Gordon’s Bay in South Shields is a tiny, hidden cove that feels well away from the busier beach spots, per reviews on TripAdvisor.

It is best enjoyed as part of a coastal walk, offering a secluded alternative to the main seaside areas nearby.

By contrast, Seaburn is one of the region’s better-known beaches, with one visitor calling the promenade and sands “wonderful for walking along with tremendous views.”

Another review said it was “very good” and added, “It will be better once Seaburn gets finished.”

Gordon’s Bay offers the quieter side of that same stretch of coast, making it a good choice for people who prefer tucked-away spots to the more obvious seaside stops.

Ross Back Sands

Ross Back Sands in Northumberland may be the most remote-feeling of the five.

Visitor reviews repeatedly describe it as “peaceful and beautiful”, with one reviewer saying, “This beach is stunning; I’ve been many times and never encountered more than a few people here.”

Another said, “Absolutely brilliant. Apart from the sound of the sea, it is peace itself.”

Near Bamburgh, it has broad sands, big skies and a strong sense of solitude, making it a favourite with walkers and birdwatchers.

The co-ord is a great option for the summertime

With summer quickly coming up, you might be planning some day trips to the beach when the weather is nice. It can be useful to have an outfit that is easy to throw over your swimwear to pop into town.

Tesco’s clothing brand, F&F, has just released the F&F Edit Pure Cotton Embroidered Lace Trim Co-ord Shirt in Cream that can be paired with the matching F&F Edit Pure Cotton Lace Insert Wide Leg Trousers in Cream. The shirt has been designed “with a collared neckline and button up fastening” and has “embroidered accents and lace trims”.

The trousers have a similar style with “pretty lace inserts” and an elasticated to make them extra comfortable. Both the shirt and trousers are being sold for £25 each.

The set was shared to the Tesco F&F Instagram page, which currently has 890K followers. The post was captioned: “Cool, calm and unexpectedly collected. #FandFClothing. #StyleItOut.”

If you want to get your hands on the shirt or trousers from this set, you can go to Tesco website to browse all of its clothes. You can also go in person to a Tesco store with a clothing department.

If this co-ord is not quite in-line with your style, Boden has many alternative options. There are these Belgravia Linen Shorts that you can wear with the Sofia Embroidered Linen Top or this Short Collared Towelling Dress, which reviews say is “great to throw over swimwear”.

New Look also has plenty of items in stock for the summer. There is Off White Dobby Texture Beaded Embroidered Trim Kaftan Dress that would be light and airy for the summer or this Green Crepe Palm Tree Print Tiered Midi Skirt, which reviews say is “very flattering”.

With a Switch 2 price increase looming, it sounds like Nintendo is seriously considering supporting the original Switch for longer than expected.

Ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch, Nintendo made it clear that it wasn’t immediately pulling the plug on Switch 1, not when it still had a sizeable audience and the older console was a lot more affordable.

Looking at Nintendo’s release schedule, though, you’d be forgiven for thinking support was wrapping up. So far, the only wholly new Switch 1 games it’s had this year are the new Tomodachi Life and Pokémon Champions, while Rhythm Paradise Groove will follow in July.

Everything else, from Yoshi And The Mysterious Book to the Star Fox remake, is Switch 2 only, but it sounds like Nintendo might have more Switch 1 games in the pipeline than previously assumed.

This is based on comments made by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa during a Q&A as part of the company’s latest financial report on the 2026 fiscal year, which ended in March.

‘I believe it is important that we consider how to expand the entire software business, including titles for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, instead of focusing only on sales of Nintendo Switch 2 software,’ said Furukawa.

Unless Nintendo is thinking of pivoting to PC releases or something (which isn’t happening until pigs learn to fly), Furukawa can only be suggesting that further Switch 1 games are at least being talked about, if not already scheduled for the future.

This could also mean Nintendo, in response to the current financial climate, will pull back from Switch 2 exclusives slightly and encourage more cross-gen releases.

It won’t stop Switch 2 exclusives completely, since it needs them to sell the console (plus, Furukawa’s already promised a ‘robust’ line-up of Switch 2 games), but the Switch 2 stands to become a harder sell thanks to the upcoming price hike.

Only 40% of Tomodachi Life players own a Switch 2, according to Furukawa, so there’s clearly a large market of Switch 1 owners that are in no rush to get a new console any time soon.

Nintendo, like everyone else, has had problems releasing as many games on Switch 2 as it did in the previous generation. It doesn’t have Wii U ports to fall back on, like it did with the Switch 1, but more lower budget, quicker to make last gen games could potentially fill that gap.

Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

Advertisement

More Switch 1 games could also represent a cost-effective way to maintain lower profile franchises, such as F-Zero or Metroid. Metroid Prime 4 was a flop but Metroid Dread was very successful and a sequel doesn’t really need the Switch 2, if Nintendo are leery of spending too much on the franchise.

More retro re-releases are also viable, especially older Pokémon games since Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which are playable across Switch 1 and Switch 2, were tremendous successes.

It’s also interesting that Furukawa’s comment was in response to a question about why sales for Mario Kart World (the Switch 2’s best selling game) had slowed down, after Nintendo stopped selling the console bundle.

He refrained from giving an exact answer, although he did describe Mario Kart World as an ‘evergreen’ game that ‘we would like to continue selling throughout the lifecycle of Nintendo Switch 2.

‘Going forward, we will continue to convey its appeal to consumers to expand its popularity as an evergreen title.’ That presumably means DLC additions and not just the small gameplay updates Nintendo’s released for the game, although he gave no hint as to when this might happen.

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

MORE: Xbox can never go back to exclusives and Halo on PS5 is the proof of that

MORE: Forza Horizon 6 overtakes Pokémon as the top-rated game of 2026 so far

MORE: Two new Xbox controllers have leaked and one of them is tiny