Letters: Reason for Scotland's drink problems is in plain sight

At a time when the political parties at Holyrood are unable to compromise on a bill to regulate the minimum price of alcohol, how ironic that you illustrate a front-page article on a weekday day-time stabbing outside a primary school (Horror knife attack yards from primary, News November 27), with a photograph of telephone box at which the attack took place, and the 8-feet-high advertisement for fruit-flavoured vodka on the back of it.

No wonder our young are turning to booze if this is the sort of commercial brain-washing they are exposed to daily from the age of five.

An advert so placed is an open attack by the drinks industry on our young, and the health of the nation. What moron thought this was an appropriate place for a flavoured spirits ad? I wish the product owner could be prosecuted.

I understand that it is unlikely that our Parliament and councils will ever find the moral courage to take on the drinks industry or the supermarkets - it's not in their nature - but surely this is something that they could fix swiftly if the will is there. Banning the public advertising of alcohol (and tobacco products?) within, say, a half-mile radius of primary schools, could have a more beneficial effect on the future health of the nation than building umpteen new hospitals.

Why don't they do it now - Before Christmas - and give the next generation the best Christmas present ever: longer and healthier lives? All they have to do is put people before party for once, agree regulation, and ask the appropriate public service to get on and physically enforce it.

I know; they will tell me "It's not that easy". But it is.

David Fiddimore, Nether Craigwell, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Draw a line under parking problems

Regarding your article on congestion in Duddingston (Traffic ban plan for park, News, November 25), the problem in Church Lane is caused by vehicles parked all day at the side of the road.

The road is wide enough for two-way traffic but has recently been made worse with the construction of the new school nearby, which has limited parking facilities.

A very obvious and cheap solution could be found by purchasing a few tins of yellow paint and applying the paint in double lines on both sides of the road.

Perhaps the real problem lies with the wealthy residents who live in Church Lane who want to create their own little peaceful street in line with many residents of the New Town who now live on major city roads that have been deliberately blocked off for through traffic. One law for the rich?

Andrew Fergus, Duddingston

TIEd up in things they shouldn't be

TIE is supposed to be a council arms-length company. TIE is supposed to be staffed and managed by industry experts whose objective is to deliver the tram project. Could council leader Jenny Dawe explain why, excluding the chairman, 50 per cent of the TIE/TEL board are councillors. Presently Councillors Wheeler, Jackson, Perry and Mackenzie are on the board.

Could Cllr Dawe please explain what expertise these four councillors bring to the TIE/TEL board? What contribution can they make to board discussions? If TIE is supposed to be arms-length from the council why are there councillors on the board in the first place?

Jim Brown, Telford Road

Postcode Lottery is paying off

It was with much pleasure I recently read that the People's Postcode Lottery had reached the milestone of raising over 10 million for charity in just three years.

Earlier this year WWF Scotland was nominated as a charity partner of the People's Postcode Lottery and we have so far received over 87,000. This money is invaluable in helping us continue our important work in tackling climate change and protecting the natural world.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who plays the game and helps raise such valuable sums for WWF and other Scottish charities.

Dr Richard Dixon, director, WWF Scotland, Dunkeld, Perthshire