Related articles

A group of British scientists have concluded from a study of Czech beer drinkers that it is "unlikely" that beer intake is associated with a big beer belly. The University of London research team, which took a random sample of over a thousand men and over a thousand women in the Czech Republic, found that beer drinking was not related to body mass index in men and was only slightly related to body mass index in women.

A Czech town declares war on bureaucrats, on average every tenth child born in the Czech Republic has a different biological father than presumed, and a man gets one million crowns in compensation for unwittingly fathering twins- find out more in this week's Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.

A most unusual art exhibition opened at Prague's Manes Gallery on Friday night. Titled Prazdroj Ceske Kultury or "The Fount of Czech Culture" it brought together close to a hundred works of art inspired by beer - pictures, paintings, photographs, sculptures and installations. The idea was sponsored by the famous Pilsner brewery Pilsner Urquell which turned it into a major social event. Among the VIPs present were culture minister Pavel Dostal, film director Zdenek Sverak, actor Pavel Landovsky and writers Michal Viewegh and Radko Pytlik. The exhibits

How much beer do Czechs actually drink, what's a "beer barrel race", and where do you go to meet the winner of the Miss Garlic contest? That and more in this week's Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.

One topic shared by most Czech dailies on Tuesday is the continuing heat wave. LIDOVE NOVINY carries a story about a north Bohemian village whose water sources have dried out for the first time in history. According to the paper, a total of twenty-four villages in the region have problems with water distribution. Drinking water has to be carried to the villages in cisterns and fire-fighters fetch service water for watering gardens and house work.

Czech government faces another arbitration. New calls for privatisation of remaining state assets. Parliament passes law to speed up energy market liberalisation. Pilsner Urquell brewery found guilty of compeititon-blocking practices. Government would like mobile operators to pay for UMTS licences as soon as possible. Central Bank intercepts an increasing number of forged euros. Consumer confidence has been on the rise. Czech foreign debt decreases.

Czechs are a nation of beer-lovers, and rare is the street which doesn't boast at least one pub. These vary enormously - on one end of the scale the swanky, upmarket bars that cater for tourists and the more discerning locals, and on the other, the traditional, old-fashioned Czech boozer. But that second variety - the simple Czech pub - could be under threat, as new, strict hygiene rules come into force. Rob Cameron has this report.

The famous Czech Brewery Budweiser Budvar may be up for sale. Although the company has long been labelled as the so-called "family silver", making it exempt from privatisation after 1989, its sale now could bring billions of crowns to the state budget. Observers warn, however, that if the government does decide to privatise Budvar, the company could fall prey to US-based giant Anheuser-Busch, which has been engaged in a fierce trademark war with Budvar, a worldwide battle that has continued for over a century.

Today's edition of Czechs in History is dedicated to beer lovers. Historically Bohemia has a long tradition of brewing beer, and one hundred years ago there were dozens of small brewing houses throughout the country, the majority of which no longer exist. But there's one that continues even today, a renowned pub and brewery called U Fleku, where you can get a taste of days gone by. In existence since 1499, it is safe to say this pub is a must for any visitor to the Czech capital, and for any beer drinker worth his salt. And if brewing beer for

The TV in the corner at the Czech and Slovak Club in the north London suburb of West Hampstead carries a Czech TV broadcast of an Extraliga ice hockey game. A few young men, Czechs and Slovaks, keep one eye on the early evening hockey game, have a chat and enjoy a pint of quality Czech beer.