City manager Kevin Johnson said urine testing was "a necessary step" after 114 drivers were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving between May 2018 and May 2019.
He said the council must "act in the interest of public safety".
Taxi driver James Bradley said the move was "overdue" and "offers peace of mind to the public".
The city council said testing would begin before Christmas and licensed drivers will be chosen at random on a monthly basis to be tested.
If a driver refuses without reasonable cause, their licence could be revoked, a spokesman said.
Mr Johnson said drug use was "totally incompatible with being a licensed driver in Liverpool".
Mr Bradley said that although drug-driving was not a big problem in the city, the move was "overdue" and "offers peace of mind to the public".
"It's brilliant that it's happened," he said.
"I think almost all drivers will agree with it and all the reputable companies too."
Tom McIntyre, from the Unite union, said the move gave "reassurance for the travelling public", but added that rehabilitation should be offered to drivers who failed the test.
https://www.bbc.co.uk
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ISLE OF WHITE
ISLANDERS will now be able to hail a taxi from an app, as a new ride-hailing service is launched.
Go Taxi is a new app offering an 'Uber style' service connecting users with local drivers.
The company has confirmed that drivers have already signed on to use the service and customers will be able to specify if they want a male or female driver.
Business owner Mark Stafford said: "In this age of increasing technology we all want an easier, safer and more secure method to book a taxi.
"Go Taxi is an Uber-style service covering the Isle of Wight solely through an app.
"We want to know who the driver is, what the registration of the car is and when it will arrive.
"Why have somebody answer all the calls when you can have an app directly devoted to booking a taxi, rather than calling three or four times to get through to somebody.
"We hope Go Taxi will have around 100 drivers, who will pay a small booking fee for each fare they take rather than a percentage of payment.
"The feedback has been very positive, all the taxi drivers we have spoken to have all said they are in."
www.countypress.co.uk
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A college student became so worried about a taxi driver's "psychic" insights after he told her about how she got dressed that she told authorities.
But Tony Cole, 60, insists he "isn't a stalker" and only knew of her morning routine through his psychic abilities.
Yet Middlesbrough Council's licensing team has addressed Mr Cole and warned him of his behaviour in a letter.
"It's utterly shocked me, I thought 'oh my god you couldn't make this s*** up," Mr Cole told Teesside Live today.
"I picked a customer up and I must have been telling them stuff, I have scared the life out of them, they have gone into the college crying, the teacher has said I must have been stalking her.
www.mirror.co.uk
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Wakefield Council is challenging a High Court decision last December that the £384 fee it charges taxi drivers for a licence to trade are unlawful.
The appeal was heard at Leeds Combine Court Centre today.
Three of the UK's top judges are set to decide on the matter, which may see councils across the country forced to fork out millions to reimburse drivers.
Wakefield Council says the amount it charges is necessary to recover the costs of licensing vehicles, as well as the costs of policing the local industry and punishing cabbies who break the rules.
The local authority has been backed by the Local Government Association (LGA) in the case, as most other authorities charge taxi fees in a similar way.
But cabbies argue the fee should only cover the cost of issuing the licence, and nothing more.
Taxi drivers brought the original case after the council hiked their fees by 60 per cent.
At a Court of Appeal hearing in Leeds on Tuesday morning, Wakefield Council's barrister Sarah Clover said the authority was seeking "clarity and guidance" over the issue.
She said: "With the breadth of the duties and the things the council does, in relation to drivers, the critical question is, how is that to be funded?
"The council has always maintained, along with most, if not all other councils, that they are entitled to be refunded for that work.
"There's always been ambiguity about it but the issue is still ambiguous and unresolved."
Ms Clover suggested that the fees system used by the council was already used, nationwide, to licence lap dancing clubs and other sexual entertainment venues. That has not been challenged.
Arguing that the fees were used to help keep people in the Wakefield district safe, she added: "Not only can a faulty vehicle have an impact on public safety, but drivers as well."
Commenting on the complex nature of the case, the lawyer representing taxi drivers said there was a "shanty town of taxi legislation".
www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk
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A Shrewsbury taxi firm is campaigning to boost independent high street shops by slashing its prices in the run up to Christmas.
Co-owner of Shrewsbury Taxis, Matt Young, believes the town offers something unique to the community which could be lost if people opt to do their shopping online rather than in town-centre shops.
Right up until Christmas Eve, the company is offering 50 per cent off all fares mid-week for travel in SY1, SY2 and SY3 postcodes.
Mr Young said Shrewsbury Taxis will pay the other half of the fare to the drivers so they don't lose out.
Marketing director Natalie Jameson said: "It’s vital that people support our local town. There is such a diverse range of independent and family businesses in Shrewsbury, and they outnumber major retailers by almost half.
"Of course there is a place for the big chains and the Internet, but Shrewsbury gives people incredible choice for shopping and entertainment.
"The town centre has around 650 shops, many of which are independents, and we hope that lower fares for a month will encourage people to get back into the town centre.
"This will be particularly important for the elderly and for families without transport, as well as for those using the out of town car parks and looking for a cheap taxi shuttle into the high street."
Seb Slater, executive director of Shrewsbury Business Improvement District, welcomed the initiative.
He said: "Shrewsbury has a huge range of wonderful shops, bars and restaurants which makes it the ideal place to visit over the Christmas period. We welcome initiatives such as this to give people additional options to get in and out of our town centre."
Shoppers must phone ahead or use the Shrewsbury Taxis app to book a car and quote 'jinglebells'.
www.shropshirestar.com
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