In March last year, 68-year-old Ronnie Haston was making plans to retire when he started feeling constipated.

The fit and active business owner had no underlying health conditions, so his GP ordered blood tests and prescribed laxatives to ease his digestion.

But when the symptoms didn’t let up – and he started experiencing muscle pain and fatigue – Ronnie’s wife, Anne, took him to A&E.

There, he was diagnosed with myeloma, a form of blood cancer affecting around 33,000 people across the UK.

And two weeks after being admitted to hospital, he was dead.

‘It was a complete shock to us all,’ said his devastated stepdaughter, Beth Hunt, 42. ‘He didn’t get to enjoy one day of retirement with my mum or do any of the future they had planned together.’

The nurse, from East Calder, recalled that in the weeks before his scheduled blood tests, Ronnie ‘just didn’t look right’.

When her mum insisted on a visit to A&E, tests showed his kidney function had plummeted to just 14%, and he had extremely high calcium levels.

Doctors drew up a treatment plan, telling Ronnie’s family he could be a good candidate for a stem cell transplant.

However, Beth said: ‘He ended up having two lots of chemo while very unwell with pneumonia and then two days later he died.

‘He pretty much went into multi-organ failure. It’s shocking, completely shocking.’

Although she doesn’t blame any of the medical professionals who treated Ronnie, she feels ‘the system’ – which caused long waits and a ‘catalogue of errors’ – is at fault for what happened to him.

‘We kept saying, “He needs a blood test”, but he couldn’t get a blood test for two weeks,’ she said. ‘In this day and age how is that acceptable? If somebody is unwell, you need the blood test now. Even in hospital, it was all too little too late.’

Beth believes GPs should receive additional education on the symptoms of myeloma, which can be ‘non-descript and not obvious.’

She explained: ‘You could put them down to muscle ache and being tired, but these should be red flags for a GP, especially in someone with no underlying conditions and having never been to a GP apart from with cellulitis from mosquito bites.

‘If Ronnie hadn’t been so unwell by the time he got into hospital, he would have been in a better position to fight it.”

On the night of her beloved stepfather’s funeral, the mum-of-two signed up to run the Edinburgh Marathon in his honour.

‘When I ran a 10-mile eight years ago, mum and Ronnie were my biggest supporters,’ said Beth. ‘They ran across Edinburgh to meet me at as many points as they could.’

While it’s her first ever marathon, she’s spurred on by thinking of Ronnie and her mum.

‘The last year without him has been awful for her,’ she added. ‘If she can wake up without him and can put one foot in front of the other, then I can take it one step at a time too.’

So far, she has raised over £2,900 for Myeloma UK, which she hopes will help prevent other families from going through what she did.

‘I’d had Ronnie in my life since I was 19,’ Beth said ‘You don’t realise the impact someone had until you lose them.’

She added: ‘He was a gentle man. He was always someone you could lean on. He’d never judge, he’d always support you and just show up.

‘Life will never be the same without him. It is so cliché, but the reality is, life is short and so precious.’

Do you have a story to share?

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Lip stains are having a real moment right now – from long lasting lip liner looks to kiss-proof tints that last all day. But when you think of the OG lip tint you can only think of Benefit.

The brand’s original, flagship product back in 1976, Benefit Benetint is a classic for a reason, with one sold every 11 seconds and three million sold in 2024 alone.

And now, social media’s favourite lip and cheek stain is officially available in two brand new shades: Dark Cherry and Raspberry, and like the original, they’re set to bring that perfect, natural-looking flush of colour that lasts.

Benefit Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain 6ml – Dark Cherry

Sheer and non-drying, the versatile tint easily swipes onto the lips to deliver a gorgeous flush of colour that lasts all day long – whether you opt for original Rose, juicy raspberry or sultry Dark Cherry.

shop £22.50

Bouncing from viral moment to viral moment, Benefit’s Benetint is the perfect purse-friendly beauty essential for achieving naturally flushed, pinched cheeks and lips with just a few dots.

Sheer and non-drying, the versatile tint easily swipes onto the lips to deliver a gorgeous flush of colour that lasts all day long – whether you opt for original Rose, juicy Raspberry or sultry Dark Cherry.

Totally transfer-proof and smudge-proof, the buildable formula leaves a sweet tint on the lips that can be intensified to your perfect hue with additional layers, helping you keep that perfect pout all day long without the need for lippy top-ups.

And its not just for the lips, either. By popping a few dots of Benetint onto the cheeks and quickly blending out with your fingers, you’ll have a stunning, just-pinched flush of blush that lasts all day, ideal for those minimal makeup looks.

For the classic Benetint look, original Rose is the shade you’ll want to opt for. Boasting a hearty, rosy pink hue, this shade is the brand’s best-selling stain for good reason, leaving a universally stunning flush you’re sure to love.

After something a pinker? New Raspberry is a juicy dark magenta hue that’s gorgeous on both the lips and the cheeks, perfect for an eye-catching look.

And if you’ve been loving the cherry-toned looks taking the beauty world by storm then you’ll love new Dark Cherry and its deep berry tones that’ll look stunning on any skin tone.

Shoppers, unsurprisingly, can’t stop raving about how much they love Benetint, calling it the ‘perfect’ lip product and raving of its easy-to-use formula.

‘I absolutely love this tint,’ raved one five-star reviewer. ‘It smells wonderful and you can blend it to your preference. Very good pigment. Looks great on lips and cheeks. Definitely would buy this when I run out.’

Another added: ‘I got the colour shade Raspberry and it’s amazing. The texture is more like water and light. It is easy to apply with the brush. It gives a nice colour to the lips without drying or making it oily.’

‘This shade is so beautiful, and I feel so confident with it on. It is extremely easy to apply, as the lip tint itself has a very watery consistency. The packaging is so cute and compact, and I love how much product there is.’ Wrote a third.

Ready to find your perfect tint? Shop the brand-new Benefit Benetint shades today and join the millions of shoppers who can’t get enough of it.

Benefit Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain 6ml – Raspberry

Raspberry is a juicy dark magenta hue that’s gorgeous on both the lips and the cheeks, perfect for an eye-catching look.

shop £22.50

Benefit Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain 6ml – Rose

For the classic Benetint look, original Rose is the shade you’ll want to opt for. Boasting a hearty, rosy pink hue, this shade is the brand’s best-selling stain for good reason, leaving a universally stunning flush you’re sure to love.

shop £22.50

Dark Cherry is our personal fav, just saying.

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I briefly woke up from a coma in the ICU and heard two nurses discussing something about the World Trade Centre and a plane.

Then everything went hazy and I passed out again.  

When I finally woke up, I was told I was at Central Middlesex Hospital and I’d missed one of the biggest moments in recent history – because I almost died. 

Nine days earlier, on September 2, 2001, I’d put on the first ever gig by British rock band The Darkness at the club night I used to run in Kings Cross. I’d organised it as I knew their guitarist Dan Hawkins – I was simply putting my mate’s new band on as a favour.

I was driving home to Staines in my 1968 Morris Minor when, at 4:44am, my mate James and I were hit head-on at 99mph by teen joyriders being chased by police.

I was in a coma for two weeks. 

Luckily for us, not only were the police already there, there was a fire station nearby and we were cut out of the car in four minutes. I was told by doctors that if they hadn’t been so quick, we would have died.

We were literally bleeding to death in a car that resembled a crushed bean can.

We were rushed to hospital and both put on life support. We had broken almost every bone and both had serious head injuries.

Initially, they thought they might have to amputate my right arm and right leg, but luckily I got to keep both. 

It’s a miracle we survived. In fact, my wife Helen was told to prepare for the worst – but James and I pulled through. 

We were both in hospital for six months and I had more than 80 hours of operations. The first to save my leg took eight hours.   

Even The Darkness came in and visited me in hospital but I can’t remember it – I wish I could, but I’ve got huge amounts of amnesia both before and after the crash. I do have a vivid memory of screaming in pain during my first physio though.

I don’t get any flashbacks. My brain saved me from PTSD by immediately erasing the crash, my rescue, and being in the ICU. 

My wife and brother went through it, not me. They still have nightmares to this day.

I was out of action for a year and was lucky not just to have support from family and friends, but The Musicians’ Union too. I was signed to Sony as a solo artist at the time, having created and written the songs for Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s band theaudience in 1996.  

As I was incapable of playing any instruments, I couldn’t earn a living and the Musician’s Union gave me essential financial support, since it took years for compensation from the accident to come through. 

But my career took a new turn. 

Once my injuries had healed enough, a friend of mine, BBC Radio London’s Gary Crowley, invited me to go onto his show to talk about the latest music releases. I’d done stuff like that before as a guest on shows and I really enjoyed it.  

Gary said I was a natural and encouraged me to do a post-grad degree in Broadcast Journalism, which I did in 2004 at the University of Westminster. After that, I got a job producing music programmes at the station. I’m now the station’s travel presenter and Brentford FC commentator and I love my job.

But I remain a musician at heart.  

So it was serendipitous that during a clear-out in the Covid lockdowns, my family found The Box – a gruesome keepsake of the night of the crash, containing photos, police statements, and court reports – and asked if I’d like to see it.  

It was the first time I cried over the whole event.  

I’ve still not seen the photos of my beautiful car, crumpled to nothing, and I don’t want to – everything else inside the box was bad enough. But among the paperwork, there were two blood-splattered mini-discs that had been in the car.    

One wouldn’t play, but the other was full of demo songs with me singing. I had no idea where I’d recorded or what they were about, bar vaguely being about love and capitalism.  

Then last year, my old friend Nigel Butler, who’s now a top record producer, agreed to work on them. I was chuffed since he’s worked with everyone, from One Direction to Aerosmith.

He isolated my vocals and turned it into a solo album called ‘When Lord God Almighty Reads The News’, which is out on green vinyl on June 6, the day before my 60th birthday. 

I’m in esteemed company. Scottish indie label Last Night From Glasgow, who just released an LP by Peter Capaldi, are putting it out. 

So far, the singles have had lots of play on BBC 6 Music but it’s strange to hear yourself, from the past, singing songs you don’t remember writing. People are often filling in the gaps for me before and after the crash, as I don’t remember much of 2001 at all.  

After all, memory is a shared experience and songwriting is a precious part of that – these songs are almost a time capsule from that year.   

But I’m so proud of this record.  

It’s proof good things can come out of the worst situations and that you’ve got to cherish life.  

These songs and I both survived that crash – I know I’m lucky to be alive. So I absolutely cherish every moment. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

A wedding coordinator has shared how changing your wedding date by a few days could knock thousands off the bill

Tesco has become the latest supermarket to install cameras on self-service checkouts, with one major difference, you can watch yourself back. 

The new VAR-style tills record shoppers as they scan their items, then playback video clips where you’ve failed to scan an item properly. 

Any shoppers trying to sneak past products or even a 25p bag at the tills will receive a warning, stating: ‘It looks like that last item didn’t scan. Please check you scanned it correctly before continuing.’

Tesco has not confirmed when the feature was added to the tills, but it joins a number of supermarkets cracking down on shoplifters, including Sainsbury’s, who introduced the technology to its stores earlier this month. 

Supermarket bosses believe thieves who can see their illegal actions have been caught are far more likely to pay for them, but customers haven’t taken to them so easily. 

What do customers think of VAR checkouts?

Tesco confirmed to Metro that the technology has been introduced, but not across all of its stores. They did not confirm when the feature was introduced, or how many shops it has been rolled out in so far. 

A spokesperson said: ‘We are always looking at technology to make life easier for our customers.

‘We have recently installed a new system at some stores which helps customers using self-service checkouts identify if an item has not been scanned properly, making the checkout process quicker and easier.’

After Sainsbury’s introduced the self-service checkout change, one disgruntled shopper took to social media, declaring the move ‘more big brother tactics with more surveillance’. 

Others called for a boycott and urged supermarkets to lower the price of their products. 

Author and social commentator Carl Vernon recently posted a YouTube video about the new Sainsbury’s checkouts to his 51,000 subscribers.

One viewer, @TheRailwayTourManager, accused the supermarket of punishing ‘law-abiding members of the public’.

‘It’s like a bad manager at work, who, because ONE person has done something they shouldn’t, everyone gets tarred with the same brush and has some sort of restriction or sanction imposed on them,’ he said.

User @_indrid_cold_ added: ‘I would never dream of stealing, but I detest and deeply resent what’s happening now in supermarkets.

‘I just wish that the public could be a bit more organised and properly boycott them until they get the message and take their intrusive spyware away.’

Sainsbury’s did not directly respond to criticism of the new tills, but a spokesperson previously told Metro: ‘We regularly review the security measures in our stores and our decisions to implement them are based on a range of factors, including offering our customers a smooth checkout experience.’

Why are supermarkets cracking down on theft?

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose by 20% last year.

A total of 516,971 offences were recorded, compared to 429,873 in 2023. In London alone, offences rose from 58,000 to nearly 90,000 in 2024.

The rising cost of living will explain some incidences, but Metro recently spoke to ‘casual kleptos’ who can afford food, and steal from big businesses, such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, regardless.

‘I can definitely afford my food shop without shoplifting,’ 25-year-old Matilda said. ‘But prices have gone crazy. I just feel like, why should I have to pay that price when big supermarkets are making the profits?’

‘I’ll take things that are quite small and will go in my bag. Like cheese or halloumi or toothpaste. Just things that are quite small but kind of expensive,’ she says.

‘I like to give myself three for two deals. I’ll pay for two things and steal one.’

Imogen, a 25-year-old therapist, also targets big shops like Asda Tesco and Sainsbury’s. 

‘I’ve stolen haircare products like oils because they’re stupidly expensive and I want them. It’s the sort of thing I wouldn’t get otherwise,’ she says.

‘Like this is a luxury item that I’m not going to be able to justify buying myself, but I can take it.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

First we had Hot Girl walks, then London’s ‘mega walks’ took over. Now, there’s a new walking routine getting the girlies talking – and it hails all the way from Japan.

Japanese Interval Walking is relatively easy to master, as all you need to do is walk at a quick pace for three minutes, then slow down for three.

The fast pace should be enough to get your heart rate up considerably (if you have an exercise watch, it should be between 70 and 85% of your maximum, which you can calculate by subtracting your age from 220).

During the slow pace, you can take it easy again and whack it down a notch. For this little break, you should be strolling – and letting your heart rate come down to between 40 to 50% of your maximum measure.

Got the gist? You just need to repeat five times for a 30-minute period. And the best bit? All you’ll need is your trainers and something to time yourself with – even if it’s just your phone, or even a good old-fashioned watch.

Naturally, it’s taken the internet by storm.

Over on TikTok, @paigepaxtonsnyder tried it as a ‘fun way’ to get her steps in. In her view, it kept exercise ‘interesting’ – and she levelled it up by wearing a weighted vest, all while staying in Zone 2.

@organicpilates is also a convert, and particularly enjoys doing it on a ‘sunny day’ to ‘increase happiness.’ We could all do with topping up our dopamine levels, that’s for sure.

What are the benefits of Japanese Interval Walking?

The benefits of interval walking are myriad, too – with one study published in UC Davis concluding that it typically helps you to burn more fat and muscle, if that’s something you’re looking to do.

Plus, HIIT exercises can lower both blood pressure and heart rate – both things that can help you live longer – but you’ll need to make sure you come prepared, as if you go too hard too soon, then you risk being left with injuries to either your muscles or joints.

We tried the trend

Metro’s Lifestyle Editor, Rachel Moss, tried Japanese Interval Walking on her lunchbreak. Here’s how she got on:

‘Call me old before my time, but I’m obsessively into walking. I put up with a 90-minute commute into London for easy access to the Chilterns at weekends, I holiday in the Lake District, and I’m currently nerding out with Kerri Andrews’s book, Wanderers: A History of Women Walking. 

‘But Japanese Interval Walking? Never again.

‘It’s somehow the worst of both worlds. Not quite the calm joy of a walk, not nearly the endorphin-pumping release of a run. Instead, it feels like I’m perpetually late for a train I never catch. 

‘Just as I start to enjoy the slow pace and notice my surroundings or, I don’t know, breathe, my phone buzzes and its sprint-ish mode again.

‘Speaking of phones, you’re glued to it the whole time. Never mind being good for your blood pressure, interval walking is so annoying, I can feel mine rising through sheer frustration. 

‘The one benefit, I suppose, is that I’ve squeezed some exercise into a day that I wouldn’t have done otherwise. But the hyper-scheduled trend destroys everything I love about walking – the mindfulness, the freedom, the quietly revolutionary rhythm – so for me, it’s a no.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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It’s officially bank holiday weekend, and if you’re not stuck in traffic or scrubbing down the BBQ, there’s a good chance you’re on the hunt for a deal.

Luckily, Argos has come through with a seriously impressive sale across tech, home, and more – and some of the biggest discounts are on top-of-the-range gadgets we all want.

Whether you’re after a new TV, need to upgrade your headphones, or have had your eye on a smartwatch, this is the perfect time to snap up a deal.

Some offers are as much as 50% off, and you don’t even have to wait days for delivery as most items are available for same-day click and collect.

Many of the deals are on well-known favourites, and if a discount code is needed, it’ll be listed with the offer as savings vary from item to item.

Explore our top picks from the unmissable sale below.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds – Black

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds feature unbeatable noise cancellation and personalised sound, thanks to CustomTune technology, which adapts audio and ANC to the unique shape of your ears. Switch between Quiet Mode and Aware Mode when you need to hear your surroundings. Use the code RED10 for 10% off.

BUY NOW FOR £197.95 (WAS £219.95) – SAVE 10%

Google Pixel 8 5G 128GB AI Mobile Phone – Rose

Google’s Pixel 8 5G 128GB AI Mobile Phone is fast, smart, and great for photos. AI features like Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Audio Magic Eraser clean up your pics and videos with just a tap. It’s got a bright 6.2-inch display, all-day battery, and a stylish rose finish to top it all off. Use the code RED50 for 50% off.

BUY NOW FOR £349.50 (WAS £699) – SAVE 50%

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 8in 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet – Grey

Perfect for everyday use, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 8in 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet in grey is compact, lightweight, and great for browsing, streaming, or catching up on emails. The bright 8-inch display is easy on the eyes, and with 64GB of storage, there’s plenty of room for your apps, photos and more. Use the code RED20 for 20% off.

BUY NOW FOR £119.20 (WAS £149) – SAVE 20%

Marshall Major V On-Ear Wireless Headphones – Black

Built with great sound and long battery life, the Marshall Major V On-Ear Wireless Headphones give you rich, signature Marshall audio in a sleek, classic design. You get up to 100 hours of playtime on a single charge, plus customisable controls and a foldable build that’s perfect for life on the go.

BUY NOW FOR £99.99 (WAS £129.99) – SAVE 23%

Anker SOLIX C300X Portable Power Station – 288Wh

Ideal for camping, road trips or backup power when you’re out and about, Anker’s SOLIX C300X Portable Power Station is max power in a compact design. With multiple ports and fast charging, it keeps your gadgets going when you’re off-grid and running on red. Use the code RED20 for 20% off.

BUY NOW FOR £175.20 (WAS £219) – SAVE 20%

HUAWEI Watch GT5 Pro 46mm Smart Watch – Black

The HUAWEI Watch GT5 Pro 46mm Smart Watch features a crisp AMOLED display, built-in GPS, heart rate and SpO₂ monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and over 100 workout modes. You’ll also get up to 14 days of battery life on a single charge, wireless charging, and handy smart features like call notifications and music control. Use the code RED20 for 20% off.

BUY NOW FOR £263.99 (WAS £329.99) – SAVE 20%

Acoustic Solutions 1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker – White

The Acoustic Solutions 1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker gives you reliable Bluetooth streaming in a clean, lightweight, and compact design. With a built-in rechargeable battery and simple controls, it’s a handy choice for listening at home or on the move. Use the code RED30 for 30% off.

BUY NOW FOR £8.39 (WAS £11.99) – SAVE 30%

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend and upgrade your tech with these unmissable discounts. Hurry though, as the savings will come to an end in just a few days!

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‘I’d never date a Tory’ is a familiar line on dating apps, but new research shows younger singles are surprisingly more open to Reform UK voters than Conservatives

Every month, a week before my period, cramps from my cervix flow into every bodily crevice.

Alongside the pain, my mood drops with a crash.

My periods are brutal because of endometriosis – a condition that causes body-wide pain due as endometrial tissue grows outside the womb. The pain is constant beyond bleeding days, and the actual menstruation? Savage. 

To prepare, I charge my TENS machine (a pain relief device) and electric hot water bottle, and stock up on painkillers.

But since I ditched menstrual products and started embracing the ancient practice of free bleeding, rushing to buy pads and tampons is one less thing to think about. I don’t ever see myself going back.

‘Oh, a period for the modern, woke, feminist?’ I hear you moan. Not so much.  

People have bled freely for centuries, especially before underwear became common in the 1800s. If you want women to return to ‘traditional femininity’, you can’t get more femme.  

In the 1970s, the term was coined amid a rise of menstrual activism and its popularity rose due to fears around toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare and potentially fatal condition that can be caused by improper tampon usage.  

In 2015, the movement surged again when Kiran Gandhi ran the London Marathon without a tampon. Her choice sparked global discussion, ranging from applause to disgust. 

I’d considered free bleeding while at university, where I battled thrush and couldn’t always afford tampons. Medieval accounts of women letting blood run into their skirts intrigued me. But period shame held me back.  

Despite being raised by a feminist matriarch, social period stigma had a massive effect. Into my twenties, I hid tampons up my sleeve to avoid people seeing them and panicked over the tiniest leak. I’d been socialised to believe my periods were inherently bad, that men would dismiss any mood change as ‘PMSing’. I figured the less people knew, the better. 

But I couldn’t find a period option that worked for me. Sticky sanitary towels gave me thrush or caused vulval irritation. Tampons were uncomfortable and fear-inducing. Reusable pads, while softer and chemical-free, still irritated my skin, and the constant rinsing was time-consuming. 

Period pants were the winner overall, but on summer days, they made my crotch feel like a bloody furnace. 

After cycling through menstrual cup options – digging inside myself, in a public bathroom, put me off for life – I decided to try free bleeding in April 2024 and I haven’t looked back.  

There’s no irritation, no smell, and fewer expenses. The average annual cost of period products is around £128 for disposable products. I haven’t spent a penny in over a year.  

I’m no longer worried about whether I have enough pads, or waste time soaking reusables.  

I also bleed less. Although I don’t have any scientific evidence, I used to go through up to eight pads or four tampons a day, and now I rarely get through my underwear. I only bleed for three to five days, instead of up to eight. I don’t know the exact source of this menstruation miracle but I’m not questioning it! 

Similarly, I’ve also noticed far less cramping. 

Instead of dousing my vulva with Sudocrem or Canesten after a long day of discomfort, I just wear dark clothing and usually change my underwear once, usually about mid-afternoon.

On light days, I can go the whole day in one pair; on rare heavier days, I might go through three. I sit on a blanket as an extra precaution, but in over a year of free bleeding, it’s never been stained. 

On work-from-home days, I sometimes eschew underwear and clothes to let my vulva breathe. I use a towel to soak up any blood and take an extra shower during the day if the blood gets on my thighs, which I already do at least twice a day during my period.  

Apart from the extra laundry load, the only down-side has been avoiding the swimming pool.  

Everyone should try free bleeding at least once. It’s cheaper, environmentally friendly and so freeing – I’ve formed a greater connection to my body and embrace all its functions without shame.

People imagine free bleeders dripping blood and leaving puddles in their wake, but we only lose an average of two to three tablespoons of blood per period. It’s not like the slasher film you’ve conjured up in your head.  

When I have shared in the past, no one has judged me – because my period is my business and how I deal with it doesn’t impact anyone else. I’m grateful for any little bit of stress I can remove from my already chronically ill life. 

If you’re curious, start on a light day near the end of your period to test the waters. Wear dark, thick fabrics and see how you go. It might not be for you, or you might become a convert. 

In the face of enduring period stigma, I plan to remain a free bleeder for as long as I have a period.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

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You know the saying ‘it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it?’ Well, that was me last weekend.  

And you know what? If you don’t believe me, try tasting 50 cans of booze while filming it for TikTok at the same time.  

You’re probably thinking there are worse ways to spend a weekend, but bear in mind, each tinny I sampled promised to transport me to a beach, a park, a rooftop, or at least somewhere more glamourous than my office in Zone 2. And yet, here I am, still tapping away at my keyboard.  

You may think I sound like a brat, though I prefer the term ‘hero’. Because, armed with only a ring pull, a glass, a spittoon, a wing and a prayer, I bravely cracked open 50 tinnies of cocktails and wines so you don’t have to. That’s why my mouth currently tastes like a boozy Haribo factory and my gums ache like they’ve been pummelled by an impatient tooth fairy. 

I’m not looking for sympathy here, by the way. But you should know that I navigated everything from neon-hued concoctions that tasted like the ‘drinks’ I used to make as a teenager (from everything in my parents’ booze cabinet), to grown-up libations that could have been poured by a barman or sommelier.  

Why? Because I set out to show that cans aren’t just about park rosé and lukewarm lager anymore, they’re good quality drops housed in elevated aluminium. Or, at least, they’re trying to be.  

Plus, cans are low waste because of their perfect portioning, they chill quicker than glass, take up less space and are easier to sneak into places I shouldn’t mention here. Plus, aluminium is infinitely more recyclable than glass, which despite its premium image, has a surprisingly wasteful track record. I’m looking at you in particular, coloured glass.  

Anyhoo, let’s cut to the chase, what are the results of my tinny taste-off? Here are the top five cocktails, spritzes and wines with scores out of 10…

The best canned cocktails

1. Infusionist Espresso Martini, £1.39, Aldi  

Impressive, base notes, coffee, chocolate, cream, can taste the spirit.

Rating: 8.5/10 

2. Infusionist Spicy Margarita, £1.39, Aldi  

Definite spice there, can taste the tequila and some good herbaceous notes – good strength.

Rating: 8.2/10 

3. Greysons Pink Gin and Tonic, 99p, Aldi  

Overt sweetness followed by pleasant bitterness – initially jarring, abrupt but evens out.

Rating: 7.9/10

4. Sunrise Margarita, 89p, Lidl  

Very authentic nose – touch too much sweetness – good lime and tequila character.

Rating: 7.9/10 

5. Ready to Drink Gin and Light Tonic, £1.10, Sainsbury’s

Good citrus bitterness, fresh, good quality.

Rating: 7.2/10

Drinks for the spritz fans

1. Sho Gun Peach Iced Tea Sparkling Sake, £21 for 6, Sho Gun Sakes

Peach heavy but nicely tempered – balanced, dry and fresh with lovely umami notes.

Rating: 9/10 

2. Codorniu Spritz Lets Orange, £24.38, Amazon  

Subtle orange flavours, freshness, good finish.

Rating: 8.7/10 

3. Pica Pica Rose Wine Spritz, £2.48, Asda  

Very moreish, dry, strawberry, intensity, fresh.

Rating: 8.6/10 

4. La Gioisa Rosea Spritz, £3.50, Waitrose  

Lovely, candy floss and dry berry flavours, very enjoyable.

Rating: 8.4/10

5. La Gioisa White Fizz, £3.50, Waitrose  

Sherbety, not too sweet, pear and apple notes.

Rating: 8.2/10 

Wine time

1. Canned Wine Co Gruner No 1, £4.95, The Tipple Cellar 

I was nodding my head while I tasted this, which is a good thing. Full flavoured, peachy, tangerine sherbet and white pepper notes. Very, very good.

Rating: 9.2/10 

2. Vinca Organic Red Wine, £9 for a 75cl aluminium bottle from Tesco or £2.99 for a can from DELLI

Fresh berries, stalky, chocolate and cherry. Very fresh, crunchy style.

Rating: 8.9 

3. Mirabeau Prêt-à-Porter Rosé, £3.75, Waitrose  

Fresh berries and strawberries , in fact, all the berries and a creamy, dry finish.

Rating: 8.9/10 

4. Villa Maria Sauvignon, £3.75, Morrisons 

Lovely Sauvignon-like flavour cues, freshness, nettley, good finish.

Rating: 8.4 

5. Terre di Faiano Primitivo Organic, £3.75, Waitrose 

Blue fruit flavours, some dried blueberry notes and lots of charred, sweet oak.

Rating: 8.4/10

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