Madam, - Michael McDowell's proposals on licensing law represent yet another unjustifiable U-turn by a member of this Government. To remove licensed premises from the remit of the Equality Tribunal would be caving in to the powerful vintners' lobby, and would result in a different equality regime applying to pubs compared with all other service providers.
The proposal to introduce ID cards and restrict bar opening times are highly authoritarian in nature - a complete denial of the Minister's so-called "liberal" ideology.
The many problems associated with alcohol will not be solved by curtailing freedoms in this way. It makes no sense to treat people like children, while expecting us to behave like adults. - Yours, etc.,
IVANA BACIK,
Law School,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.
Madam, - While I am in favour of banning under-18s from pubs after 8 p.m., I wonder what alternative occupations are available for the teenagers who have bedtimes later than this. Teenagers need to socialise, to have place where they can interact with each other and develop "adult" behaviours and social graces.
Late-night cafés, which are currently to be found almost nowhere, would solve the problem for many of these young people. Such places might also provide pool tables, dart boards, etc., to occupy patrons who usually find these things in licensed premises. In addition, such cafés would provide an alternative for the over-18s who want to socialise without consuming large quantities of alcohol.
If we want to reduce the amount of time spent drinking, and the emphasis on alcohol in our social scene, alternatives must be provided.
Tax benefits or similar incentives should be provided to people wanting to open late-night premises not serving alcohol. - Yours, etc.,
K. MURPHY,
Temple Bar,
Dublin 8.
Madam, - I see the PDs are emerging in their true light.
While they and the class they represent are making money and enjoying themselves, everything is fine. But as soon as the rest of us start to behave in a way they consider (gasp) yobbish, all their talk of deregulation, the liberal agenda and free choice disappears and out of Michael McDowell's right pocket comes his cosh to bash us into living the way he thinks proper.
The PDs and their pals in Government consider they have now won the economic argument, and these changes in the drinking laws, which at a glance seem minor and sensible, are just the first step of a new, repressive social agenda. - Yours, etc.,
STUART GREEN,
Camden Street,
Dublin 2.