Well, as the Times comes from such a disreputable stable, I suppose they may well print it. You wouldn't have had a cat in hell's chance of getting it into the Guardian. Essentially, you referred to him pejoratively as an old toper (unnecessary ageism) and as an alcoholic (couldn't do without his inebriative fix), the latter an allegation founded on nothing at all except that he had some home-made wine. Well I've got far more bottles in my outhouse than he had and I'm not an alcoholic. Were the Times to publish that as their editorial opinion, your "old toper" would be able to sue.