Letters: Alcohol retailers deserve to get a level playing field

I WAITED with bated breath for the result of the alcohol commission's investigation into the reasons for the alcohol problem in Scotland and hoped we would be presented with some sensible solutions.

Having read the results of their research in the News (Booze ban for public receptions, August 31), I am disappointed, but not surprised, that in the main, they churn up the same old recommendations with some very slight tweaking.

There can be no doubt that the supermarkets and their discounted prices are the main problem, encouraging bulk buying with, for example, three cases for slightly more than the full price of one.

Pubs and clubs would be hung out to dry if they offered customers a deal which was seen to encourage them to drink more.

The commission's first recommendation should be a level playing field for anyone selling alcohol – off-licence, supermarket, pub or club.

The only recommendation that makes total sense to me is the proposal to ban alcohol at parliament and council receptions. Not only would it prove a commitment to reducing alcohol consumption it would save us, the taxpayers, paying for the council to indulge themselves. How hypocritical it is to pay lip service to the dangers of alcohol and then ask the people they are preaching to to pay for them to drink it.

I seriously doubt, however, that this proposal will go any further.

Yet again, in my opinion, the latest exercise has been yet another waste of time and money and will do nothing more to solve the problem of binge drinking than any report that has gone before it.

Sheila Fraser, Beveridge Close, Dalkeith

In denial over need for housing

I READ the letter from Keith Anderson of Port of Leith Housing Association (News, August 30) and I would like to pose a few questions.

A well-built home should easily stand for 100 years and really a lot more. In the last 10 or so years Edinburgh Council has demolished something like 2000 homes – and how old were they?

I have to ask, what was the book-value of those homes, 150 million or more? In economic climate, that's a lot of money down the toilet.

With more than 100,000 on Scotland's housing waiting lists, why are there 70,000 empty homes in Scotland?

With every year that passes, today's politicians seem to put more and more effort into ignoring the elephant in the room, into papering over the cracks, denying the undeniable and defending the indefensible.

They just seem committed to ignoring what goes on in our communities.

Mev Brown, Southhouse Square, Edinburgh

Roll project out across country

AS the person who initiated the graveyard project proposal (News, August 26), I was absolutely delighted when it was given approval by the Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill.

George Bell (manager, Bereavement and Public Health) and Harry Robertson (service manager, Criminal Justice Social Work Services) and their staff are to be commended for their willingness to embrace an idea which could improve the appearance of the graveyards in Edinburgh.

I hope, with the minister's support, this idea will be rolled out to council areas throughout Scotland.

Alan McKinney, Beauchamp Road, Edinburgh

Danger lurking close to home

DURING a cycle trip from Gullane to Leith I stopped for a breather by Cockenzie Power Station and it was here that I met a group from CND who were on a peace walk.

A member of the group informed me that Edinburgh and the surrounding area are on a route regularly used by secret military convoys which transport nuclear warheads to and from RNAD Coulport.

We are informed by TV news about the development of nuclear weapons in countries like North Korea and Iraq and how much of a threat this would be, but perhaps the greatest threat is on our own doorstep!

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh