well bob travels, I'm glad you only drink your beer, and I'm glad you're happy with the no smoking. However, youp pub must be different from mine, it's empty most of the time, most of the smokers are outside. As a non smoker, I think it's disgusting that smoking has been banned, my wife prefers to drink at home, we were willing to pay pub prices because we liked the company. Now, as I said, the pubs are empty, none of the mouthy none smokers who couldn't go into pubs because of smoking have turned up, and we now stay at home. What on earth did my father fight for? Have you nor read that pubs are closing at a rate of fout a day, surely pubs should have been given a choice, smoking or non smoking.

colin millin, teignmouth, devon

I agree 100% with all of these comments except for that of R Bingham of Lauzun, France: there are some things that should never be tried!

How about adding the point that if bars weren't forced to sell alcohol so darned expensively in the first place, people wouldn't be so desperate to take advantage of happy hour prices!

This government is making me so angry!

Brijit, Paris/Bedford, France/UK

Maybe the RCP should be getting their own house in order before lecturing publicans. I might come out of a pub drunk but I won't be coming out with MRSA.

Casper Slides, London,

Since medecine and journalism are the two professions with the highest incidence of alcoholism, a journalist quoting a doctor is the last person to advise us on sensible drinking.

Paul Randle, Barnet,

Coming from a profession who as a body recklessly handout Antibiotics, Anti-depressants, Sleeping Pills etc as if there is no tomorrow. These comments are laughable.

Am sure that the majority of wine consumed is purchased from shops and consumed at home because it is convenient and half the price. Why bash the pubs?

Thanks to medical recommendation this Government has increased the duty of alcohol and will continue to do so, with above inflation increases over the next few years. It just means that booze will be relatively even cheaper at the supermarket for home and street consumption.

Regarding drinking at home. Can a doctor explain to me, how a responsible adult will be able to intervene and say to a drunk? You have had enough to drink I am not serving you.

The pub's problem is customers who come in for the evening already supermarket alcohol fuelled. The more drunk of which do not go up to the bar. Well they would spill the drinks, wouldn't they.

H Henderson, Harrow, UK

when all the Pubs are shut we won't have to worry about it WILL WE?!!!

paul, poole, GB

Go away,

I want to drink the amount that I drink. I'm happy. Stop trying to be "Mom knows best". Anybody old enough to buy alcohol is old enough to know what the risks are.

But yes, keep going at the damn smokers. Not because they are killing themselves, but because I have to breath the stinking smoke as well.

Nobody drinks my beer except me.

Bob Travels, Stevenage,

Considering that there isprobably more alcohol drunk at home than in pubs and restaurants now bcause of the difference in the price of alcohol in supermarkets compared to pubs, it probably does not make any difference what size of glass is used or the measure being served.

Nick P., Camberley Surrey, England

Oh right.

So after you open the bottle you are supposed to pour it into a glass of some sort.

OK. I'll try anything once.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

Aren't we getting a bit paranoid because of the binge drinking of a minority?

Surely the answer is for drinkers to be aware of how many units of alcohol is in the glass and act accordingly. This applies to all alcohol and not just Wine. For example, one pint of strong Lager can be equal in units to half a bottle (sometimes more) of wine.

So lets be realistic about alcohol. Most people drink well within reason in pubs and those who don't, are either ignorant of in calculating the number of units they drink or couldn't care less anyway. Thankfully they're in the minority but seem to attract the most press.

Paul V Davis., Kilburn London, UK