Glamorising drinking

KAREN L Dunleavy, the Liberal Democart chairman from Romsey (Letters, July 31) attacks correspondent Alex Briggs and says he should appreciate there is a big difference between a night out at the pub and problem drinking. I am sure that he, like most people, fully understands the difference between problem drinking and social drinking. That is not the issue.

MP Sandra Gidley goes much further in her parliamentary Bill and not only seeks to restrict the advertising of all alcohol before the watershed but also to oppose the sponsoring of sporting events by drink companies - another attack by her on competitive sports.

However, the following weekend to promote herself she saw nothing wrong in going to a pub and associating herself with drinking. What's that, if not the glamorising of drinking to which she says she is opposed? Even The Times was moved to comment on her blatant double standards.

To summarise Mrs Gidley's words and deeds: Sporting events may not be associated with drinking but Liberal Democrat MPs may be. In order that the electorate may put this into context, is this another example of the Liberal Democrats "having your pint and drinking it"!

IAN NEWNHAM, Romsey.