Relative health
Ellis Thorpe (Letters, 23 December) asks whether it’s such a bad thing that so many pubs have closed.
But I would argue that the closure of a pub would not impact on the amount of alcohol a person drinks. Supermarket takeouts are cheaper anyway.
The closure of many pubs (or their conversion to trendy spots for youngsters) has removed a lifeline from many old people who have few other social networks.
Recent reports about the loneliness suffered by many of our senior citizens should underline this.
LORRAINE REYNOLDS
Glasgow