Letters: It's time we called for strong measures on binge drinking

But a look abroad shows hardline measures have had an impact on the binge-drinking culture.

The Nordic countries have historically shared the drinking culture which has been part of Scotland's tradition. However, they have recognised the serious cost – medical and financial – of hard drinking as a social pastime.

As a consequence, the tax on alcohol in these countries is very high. This has had a great impact on the consumption of alcohol, and wine and spirits are not as freely available as they are here.

The very idea of such restrictions might have some people reaching for a brandy, but the cumulative effect over the years has been that young people grow up free from the all-pervading notion in Scotland that enjoying your weekend cannot be accomplished without getting out of your head on booze.

I'm not as acquainted as Helen is with the pleasures of the Grassmarket on a Saturday night, but I recently enjoyed one in Oslo.

When the pubs shut, the weather was miserable and there were no taxis to be had. If that happened here, carnage would swiftly have ensued, with bottles hurled across streets before the emergency services arrived to mop up the mess. But in Oslo, the revellers gave a rueful smile before heading home in a civilised fashion.

Perhaps a change in Scottish drinking habits, brought about by minimum pricing, would gradually bring about a healthier attitude to booze which would one day lead to weekend evenings in our cities being a pleasant experience once again.

That's something I'd drink to – in moderation, of course.

Randall McLean, Portobello

Build statue to the 'voice of rugby'

AS A former pupil of Bill McLaren many moons ago in Hawick, I have certainly missed his incomparable rugby commentary for the past eight years. Now he has moved on to pick up the microphone in the sky, I feel the SRU should recognise his services with a statue at Murrayfield.

It would keep the legend alive among young supporters when faced with a statue of Bill with mic in hand on entering Murrayfield each international day.

Alistair Scott, Parkgrove Avenue, Edinburgh

A platform Scots can build upon

LATEST Scottish GDP figures show our construction industry was hit twice as hard by the recession as the economy overall in the year to September – and contrary to the UK building sector as a whole, still contracting in the third quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, a major study by the UK Contractors' Group provides compelling evidence that investing public funds in construction is one of the most efficient ways of delivering long-term economic growth.

Using construction of a new school as an example, the study found that every 1 invested could deliver as much as 5 in direct and indirect long-term benefits to the wider economy.

If there's one area of Scotland's 30 billion budget that needs an additional boost, it must be capital investment. Whether invested in new houses, schools, hospitals or major infrastructure, reinstating the current 300 million shortfall in capital funds could deliver long-term added value to the Scottish economy of as much as 1.5 billion – and help safeguard thousands of construction workers and apprentices into the bargain. With intensive negotiations around the 2010-11 Scottish budget already underway, additional capital investment must be a top priority for all parties.

Michael Levack, Scottish Building Federation, Edinburgh

Our housing crisis needs fixed now

HUNDREDS of thousands of people in Scotland are in need of a house and yet, during the Budget debate, most of Scotland's politicians failed to focus on a lack of funds for more affordable homes.

Some of our MSPs stood up for housing – but at the end of the day the Scottish Government's Budget was passed through its first stage with the massive drop of 204 million in housing spend from this year to next still in place.

Scotland's housing crisis needs attention before it's too late.

Graeme Brown, director, Shelter Scotland