BEER PUTS FIZZ IN FIGURES; your money.

Byline: CLINTON MANNING

PROFITS at drinks giant SAB Miller have plunged despite bumper UK lager sales.

The global heavyweight saw earnings fall 26% to pounds 897m in the six months to October.

But it bucked the trend here with a record 6% share of the premium lager market. That is largely due to booming demand for Peroni Nastro Azzuro, which sold an extra 13.5m pints.

Despite falling profits, SAB's shares jumped 5% yesterday, making the firm worth pounds 27bn.

Bosses claim this means it has overtaken Diageo as Britain's biggest drinks company.