People don't drink alcohol in pubs as they once used to, so all soft drinks, including water, have rocketed in price.

False logic yet again. Soft drinks have ALWAYS been expensive in pubs. Well, around us anyway. In 1969 when I shouldn't have really been drinking anyway a pint of bitter was 1/10 - They charged more if you had a pint of shandy because the lemonade was dearer than the beer. Shortly after, when I started to take girls in pubs, I used to dislike buying a larger and lime - because they charged for a shot of lime! And once they introduced the draught soda machines (1980's?) they knew they could charge whatever they wanted - and did! Pubs and breweries have always known that soft drinks are, if you will excuse the pun, a soft touch.

One thing I will wholeheartedly agree with is the fact that clubs are an issue - Not even necessarily the tradition image of a club. A lot of city centre pubs have become the same. They should take some responsibility for assisting people into the states they get in. Extra legislation is not the answer though, There are already laws governing the situation that are not enforced. Did you know, by the way, that drunkenness is still an arrestable offence under the 1872 licensing act? When did you last hear of it being used? And the 1964 act establishes the responsibility and authority of your local pub landlord. By law, the licensee is not permitted to serve a drunken customer, or permit them on the premises.

How will extra legislation help? Once again, political smoke and mirrors. Scapegoats for bad management and media hype. Sorry, Lizzie - they have fooled you yet again.

DeG