we all pay tax on our booze and plenty of money for the nhs so whats the problem. you cant ban everything that isnt good for us. its human nature.

james, cambridge,

"These people could be drinking themselves into an early grave"... so what? Given the prospects this government offers for pension payments or care for the elderly, an early grave after years of happy hours seems not such a bad alternative. Total public costs are likely to be less this way.

Adrian, London, UK

Ms Primarolo should have said "Around a quarter of the population drink to a harmful level. These people could be drinking themselves into an early grave — we need them to act like responsible human beings. This is preferable to us poking our noses into everyone's business."

John Scott, London,

I hate this Country that raised me.I used to love it but now everything is reduced to a cost to the State. A cost we all contribute to many times over but have little real control over. What about the people? Does our opinion not matter? Without the people there is no State. I cant wait to emigrate.

Phil Austin, RAUNDS, England

I thought we kicked the Puritans out years ago?

pcooke, Gloucester,

Having been to Norway on many occasions, where the price of alchohol is very expesive, price in supermarkets is irrelevant. I have seen more legless people there than here. Can we look at hard drugs like herion etc before we tackle to working class? Take away any enjoyment we have, why not?

Joe, Scotland,

The government wants pubs closed but they aren't the problem. The cheap drink in supermarkets is.

judy, Liverpool, England

There should be more funding to support people who want to control or quit drinking. My doctor told me I just had to use 'will power' when I raised the issue with her, but I'm not sure that AA is the answer for me either (which she didn't mention as an alternative anyway).

VG, manchester,

How long before we're all tattoo'ed by the government and forced to obey!

Arthur, Newcastle,

maybe if we didn,t have to live under this pc nanny state nu labour mess,we,d feel less inclined to want to get bladderd

lorne, derby, england

So we can drink for 24 hours a day but 'happy hours' are banned, Gordon im confused (again) think it is probably time you gave up now.

Mark, Worcester, Englabnd

Those people in the picture appear to be holding Steins. Not a common vessel in either the UK or Ireland. One from the wrong archive perhaps?

Bill Q, Derby,

Phil and Francis don't understand that the government's plan is to raise the tax on drinking and inconvenience everyone instead of tackling problem drinkers. There are already plenty of laws and regulations about public drunkeness and disorderly conduct but it is too much like work to enforce them.

John Thompson, Reading, Berkshire

Here's an idea: private health insurance for all, mandated and subsidised by the government. After that, anyone found to be drunk and disorderly on a night spends a week in the tank and gets a £200 fine.

James, Newcastle, UK

Seeing the UK from an Ex-Pat's eyes - I can tell you that I have noticed, in the last ten years, the amount of alcohol consumed in the UK and Eire has been a shocking sight - I have felt ashamed to be British! Since Roman days, the people of Britain just do not know when to STOP!!

Suzanne, Florida,

The government should start to charge people for alcahol or drug overdose treatment. If a plumber charges 60 GBP for a call out, how much does it cost to send an ambulance to pick some idiot off the pavement on Saturday night? They want the freedom to drink stupidly, let them pick up the bill!!

Luke, London, UK

What great timing - on the day that it is confirmed that the House of Commons bars and restaurants made a loss of £5.5 million (approximately half of it's running costs) suggesting that the food and drink is sold effectively at half price!
Will Happy 24 Hours have to end in Parliament?

Eddie, Cheshunt, Herts

I've a good idea - why don't we restrict opening hours?
If the only pint a pensioner can afford is one with 50pence off, then he could well die of boredom or go mad or steal from a supermarket - but of course I suppose that is cheaper for NHS.
Dying of hypothermia is also cheaper so is starvation.

jim, Prudhoe, England

Just to be clear, these new laws apply only to England. The Scottish government has different proposals which will apply to that country.
The report doesn't make that clear and may mislead Scottish readers.

Chris, Northampton, England

just another tax

will, grimsby, uk

So it's nothing to do with the extended opening hours then?

This govt really excels at blaming everyone but itself.

Bill, Knaresborough, UK

My Doctor asked if I had a drink problem, I told him no, as I could get a drink anytime I wanted.

Leo, Durham, England

It's ridiculous to suggest that this is the "nanny state". In the 19th Century the Government took decisive action to curb the problems of alcoholism because of it's appalling social effects. There'd be less criminality if all these drunks were made to pay a lot more for their dubious pleasures...

Phil, Lancaster, England

John, fine if you want to drink yourself silly, throw up on the pavement and go to A&E be my guest. But you will have to pay for every penny of the cost to public services and others who lose out. If you can't then you will have your assets liquidised and be declared bankrupt.

Is that a deal?

Francis, London,

So it is OK to go to the supermarket and load up on beer for less than cost price but as they pay to much to back government this end of the trade will not be looked at and of course there is no control over how much of this people buy.
Great planning!!!

Andrew, London,

Nanny go home. It's none of your business how much we drink or what retailers charge for drink. What about all the money you collect on our over taxed alchohol which is way more than the inflated costs to the NHS you have paid consultants to come up with. Get out of our private lives and stay out.

John Thompson, Reading, Berkshire