A choice of beverages

Drink up

Sir, – Like Emer McLysaght (“I will never deviate from ordering the second cheapest wine on the menu”, People, March 9th), I was an advocate of ordering the second cheapest bottle of wine on the list until a sommelier befriended me. He confidently informed me that restaurants were very aware of this practice and put their cheapest wines in that position. He recommended buying wines from obscure regions that may be on the wine menu. However, these decisions are now virtually redundant for me as I have vigorously embraced our super Irish craft beers! – Yours, etc,

ENDA CULLEN,

Armagh.

Sir, – Recently I bought a take-away cup of tea in Dublin 1 at a well-known store chain found in nearly every town in Ireland. One tea bag (good quality), boiling water, a splash of milk and the cup. Cost, a whopping €3.25.

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The next day, I sat in at very pleasant cafe in Harold’s Cross to have a cuppa with a friend. Tea, in a nice pot, was priced at €2.50. Some welcome change in these days of ever upwardly moving prices. – Yours, etc,

CLARE BALFE,

Dublin 7.