ONCE again the politicians have got it wrong. Stick anything up to 10p a pint, problem solved. I don't think so.

Remember the time we said that if prices reached 50p a pint, we would all give up the demon drink? Did we?

I was a landlord for 13 years, and for all that time the law stated that it was illegal to be drunk in a pub, and worse still, illegal to be served while drunk in a pub.

As far as I know, these laws are still on the statute book.

Now, if the police were to go inside pubs and clubs, and apply the law, then they would not have the troubles outside at closing time.

But this would have an effect on tax revenues for the government, so we won't bother with that.

And what about the ordinary man in the street? What about the small village pub serving the local community? Times are hard now, and pubs would close in their hundreds if locals were to be penalised for the drunks in the towns.

Let's get sensible, apply the law, and let's get cities and towns fit for all ages to enjoy.

REG MUNDY, West End.