Relative health

Ellis Thorpe (Letters, 23  December) asks whether it’s such a bad thing that so many pubs have closed.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Dec 2014, 00:00 BST

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