Letters: Have we got the bottle to tackle our booze problem?

This exposes the nanny state at its very worst. Whose health is banning a supermarket from selling booze going to help? Is refusing supermarkets or other businesses licences to sell alcohol the correct way to tackle our love affair with the booze?

If we really want to crack down on the booze culture, we have to tackle those who are causing problems through alcohol.

I have visited many countries worldwide and most of them do not put up with the behaviour we see on the streets of the UK every Friday/Saturday night.

In the UAE or Singapore if you act in any kind of disorderly manner through the consumption of alcohol it is likely to earn you six months’ detention. In Singapore you would also face the birch and for foreign nationals almost certain deportation after sentence. If the UK were to adopt harsh policies then perhaps the problem with the bottle would be solved overnight.

I would also be in favour of charging those brought into our hospitals for any treatment that is required as a direct result of being in an intoxicated manner. It is only when people are made to face up to their actions that behaviour will change.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth, Fife

Greenways not being understood

THE news of impending penalties against bus lane abuse (News, April 25) prompts me to raise the point of the non-use of green lanes outside the restricted periods, which in many parts of the city only apply to a few hours on working days.

So often the flow of traffic is affected by a vehicle leading a long line of traffic behind it, which is unable legally to overtake in the outside lane instead of the non-applying green lane, even when there are no parked cars or slow vehicles ahead.

The lead vehicle in such circumstances should be liable to reprimand.

James Allan, Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh

Policy claims just don’t stack up

MARTIN Hannan’s completely baseless assertions about policy formulation just don’t stand up to scrutiny (News, May 1).

Martin needs to ask himself, which local party published a draft manifesto a full six months ago; was willing to amend that manifesto based on extensive public feedback; and has ensured its group leader has been present at every city-wide election hustings event in the Capital so he could answer public questions directly.

He then needs to reflect on which local party published its final manifesto with less than two weeks to go until polling day; asked no-one for any feedback on its proposals; and whose group leader missed every city-wide election hustings event in the Capital with the exception of just one.

Andrew Burns, leader, Labour group, Edinburgh City Council

Old guard are not worth re-electing

MY partner and I contacted our three councillors regarding the lack of access to the South Queensferry cycle path from our road.

Though elderly neighbours claim that it was in the plans to provide a ramp, the council only built some rather shaky and slippery wooden steps.

While this is not ideal for local kids with bikes as well as for disabled or elderly residents, the lack of action from some councillors speaks volumes perhaps of their attitude. On this issue, both the SNP and Lib Dem councillors replied initially though the promised follow-up never materialised. Unfortunately, the Conservative councillor does not deem her constituents worthy of a reply.

With local authority elections this week, our family will be voting Green in the hope of not only getting better deal for both cyclists and pedestrians but electing councillors who do what they’re paid for.

Seon Adams, Rosshill Terrace, Queensferry

Action should have been taken

I REFER to your article “Park group leader bows out” (News, April 28) where there is comment about an alleged conflict of interest between Ros Sutherland, chair of Portobello Park Action Group, and the city council.

If Marilyne MacLaren has irrefutable evidence there has been a conflict of interest over a period of time then, as convener of children and families, she perhaps should have done something about this earlier.

Councillor Stephen Hawkins