I spend an hour in the morning and an hour each evening siting on a train commuting to and from London. I need a drink to numb the pain. William Webster, Hook

To ban alcohol on public transport will mean that a policing scheme may need to be introduced to govern the ban. As I travel daily on buses, bus drivers are rightly reluctant to even challenge a group of youth when they hop on the bus without paying the fair, how much more reluctant will they be if given the responsilbilty to ensure they do not drink on their buses. ill we need a policing scheme? If so do we have the resources? Overall I agree with the government to ban alcohol on public transport as I really do not see the need to engulf a cider on the back seat of the double decker. Are we a nation that cannot survive a journey without a drink? Myles Johnson, Croydon

Not only should alcohol be banned on public transport, but it should also be against the law for a person to walk down the street with any form of alcohol beverage in their hand. As much as we criticise America try walking down New York City's mean streets with a can of beer etc in your hand and see what happens. I say, yes indeed it should be banned. Catherine Smart, London

I'd love to return to England, but the thought of having my freedom of movement being so curtailed by the need to avoid situations where potentially dangerous drunks are (buses, trains, parks, streets after 5pm, all entertainment venues ...) horrifies me. Here, I can go out without fear. Ban alcohol outside of buildings, please. Susan Green, Hannover, Germany

As a psychologist in practice in Massachusetts, I've seen the destructive attributes on individuals, as well as families and society in general. In fact, I just spoke on the telephone to a man who is facing a two year mandatory prison sentence because of his alcohol use/abuse while driving. These individuals who take the train or bus, and drink while doing so, then often get into their cars to drive home from the train or bus station. As far as I'm concerned, any restriction of alcohol use is a positive thing for society and the potential victims of those who abuse this drug. Dr Jean Oertel, Cape Cod, USA

It seems to be a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The main problem in this country is that a minority of people drink more than they can hold and then become violent and a nuisnace to the general public. As most journeys in this country are short (2-3 hours), travelling cannot be creating a large number of drunkards. Why not prosecute the culprits under the existing laws rather than enacting new ones? The reason is that we do not have enough police to man all city centres. How will we monitor trains and buses all over the country? Vinay Mehra, Purley

Why have restrictions on this? If yobbish behaviour is the problem then have restrictions on yobbish behaviour. Most people who enjoy the occasional drink on the train keep themselves to themselves, so why let a few ruin it for everyone else? It's not the drink that is the problem. Christopher Paine, London

I really don't care if they ban it or not; it's not a pleasant thing to see or smell on the train. However, I'm bemused at what difference they think it is likely to make. Most people who are drunk on trains are drunk because they have been drinking in a bar or at a party, not on the train - this surely cannot be legislated for. Also, it makes no sense that it would be legal for a drunk person coming out of a bar to get onto a train whilst drunk, but illegal for a sober person to have a small drink whilst on it. And surely you can't have 'booze police' on every carriage checking every person's plastic water bottle to make sure it doesn't actually contain vodka or gin? Looks like more pointless tinkering around the edges of the real issue to me - just like the smoking ban. Karen Hudson, Wickford, Essex

I would say it's better to screen the people getting onto public transport, or give warnings to passengers getting rowdy over a long journey, rather than discriminate against everyone by banning alcohol. I would venture that as with many instances of antisocial behaviour, the people causing the trouble are a minority group and are as likely to cause problems by having a natural inclination for misbehaviour, as by being given access to drink on a journey. Incidentally, I used to have an hour commute from London and on the evening services I took from Cannon Street it was a common practice for people to unwind with a can of beer or glass of wine. I know that if after a long day in the office some official came over to me and told me I couldn't have my 250mls of nectar, I'd be far more inclined to violence than if I had been allowed it. E Dove, London

Alcohol should definitely be banned on all public transport - I've suffered too many times on GNER trains with drunks shouting abuse, staggering about and intimidating women and staff. It's not on. No wonder people want to 'cocoon' themselves in cars rather than subject themselves to selfish drunks. You can have a drink without annoying and threatening people around you. Is anyone else fed-up wth all the trouble the increase in boozing is causing to Britain? As for 24 hour drinking - is the government mad (or do none of the cabinet live near a pub?) D Johnston, Edinburgh

Does the taking of the blood of our Christ constitute drinking in public and how long before this is banned? Rev Indigo Pampous, Southend

Another knee-jerk reaction from the Government. It's not the alcohol which needs banning it's the drunken passengers. Why should 95 per cent of people have to pay for the 5 per cent of idiots who get legless and cause mayhem? Alan Howell, Oldham

Many years ago I came back from a trip to Africa, with a couple of bottles of duty free. I had train reservations which were fine, until I got to Reading. The train from there, for which I had reservations, was designated a no drinking football train. The ticket office advised me to buy a ticket for the next train. Eventually, accompanied by a transport police office, I handed my bottle to the buffet car attendant on my original train for "safe-keeping" until the train arrived in Plymouth. Will we now not be able to have duty free if we get trains to and from the airport? Chris Moiser, Plymouth

Although the notion of "sensible and responsible drinking" may be something that the majority of people are aware of, an irresponsible minority are about to deprive the majority of one relaxing drink on the way home from work. But then again, how often in life are the majority punished thanks to the minority? In this particular case the only way to wipe out yobbish behaviour on trains and buses is, sadly, by punishing the innocent majority together with the guilty minority. Mike Smith, Zaragoza, Spain

I visit Britain every year and travel by train. I think its a bad idea to prohibit alcohol on public transport. I haven't seen anyone getting drunk on trains! Jalnawalla Dinyar, Pune, India

Do commuters really roll off trains blind drunk in Britain? And if so, should we not be asking ourselves why? I sincerely hope that there are two separate issues involved, here. First, the carrying of bottles of alcohol onto public transport for the express purpose of consumption while travelling. And second, the consumption of beer, wine and spirits bought from a vending point on board public transport during the journey. In the first case, yes, it is most disagreeable to see members of society drinking expressly to become drunk (in Spain a mainly urban and weekend phenomenon known as "el botellón"). But should a blanket ban be imposed would not innocent shoppers taking bottles of wine or beer home also be open to accusations of carrying alcohol with intent to consume? The second issue is extremely worrying. A ban on alcohol sales on board transport would rob travellers of the innocence and pleasure of a bottle of wine with their evening dining car meal. It would wreck the "wine and dine" operations run by many heritage railways (as well as make a nasty hole in their ordinary buffet-car takings). Such a ban would mean the end of top-end of the market luxury touring trains (Royal Scotsman, VSOE, and such like) within Britain. And imagine such a ban being extended to cross-Channel and inter-island ferries . . . No - why should sensible, moderate consumers of alcohol (with food) have to suffer because of the irresponsible activities of a few? Think again, spoilsport Blair! Mike Bent, Oviedo, Spain

Brits drink way too much in a short time. Ban public drinking. Set an example for a change. Name and address withheld

Is this not another example of Nanny state interference? Who would police the measures? If the problem is really so huge, then it is high-time that the emphasis moved away from legislation and towards individual responsibility. We are becoming accustomed to our interfering governments. They are not there to legislate away our ills and responsibilities. Crispin Caldicott, Warkworth, New Zealand

The ban should be against over-priced drinks on trains. At least such a ban would prevent extortionate profits accruing to the train companies from what amounts to a captive pool of late and frequently disgruntled customers. Zeke Blatter, Oxford

In our country, consumption of alcohol beverages is permitted on all trains, and all long-distance bus routes because this is seen as an ideal means of combating drink-driving. For people who feel the desire to drink, simply let public transit do the driving for you. No harm done. Alcoholic beverages are officially banned on short bus rides throughout the US, although the ban is almost never enforced. Scott Benowitz, Rye,New York