Turn down tea

I AM not surprised that the drinking of a lot of tea is a health risk (“Cancer link for men who drink tea by the gallon”, your report, 19 June).

In my childhood, only poverty-stricken parents (not mine) adulterated their children’s milk with tea before the age of seven. At seven, already loathing the smell of tea, I refused to drink it and have never drunk it.

When I was 14, the form mistress at our all-girls school, who was arranging an outing, offered us a choice between lemonade and tea. All the healthiest girls chose lemonade. Only the daughters of poor families chose tea.

Most people eventually accept tea for the sake of politeness, then become hooked on it.

I firmly refuse alcohol too but will accept coffee out of politeness (preferring it decaffeinated and mostly milk).

I am 94, unmedicated and completely self-coping.

KS MANNING

McVeagh Street

Huntly, Aberdeenshire