Lies, damned lies...
Sir: The logic of Mr Cameron's letter on alcohol (10 January) is so mysterious that one begins to sniff a Henry Root-flavoured mischief in what could generously be called his case.
Tedious though it is: (1) the obvious needs as much proof as its opposite (it may not be obvious to me); (2) the use of that old whipping boy, statistics, and the exercise of common sense are not mutually exclusive; (3) it is a fact, not an assumption, that alcohol abuse is increasing in Britain and would not be a negligible state of affairs if half the population of Europe had DTs; (4) the breathalyser disrupts the social life of the drinker, not the motorist. Drinkers are no more compelled to be in charge of a car than motorists are to go into a pub; (5) there would appear to be no such thing as 'harmless social drinking . which involves the use of a motor car.' Social drinking and the car do not mix in any circumstances; (6) the claims that the breathalyser's introduction is a factor in the increase of alcohol abuse or that solitary drinking would be encouraged by a change in our social habits are not worth refuting.
As far as drinking and driving goes, Robert Adley and others were pressing for changes last week in the second reading of the Transport Bill. We will have to see what comes of this.
On the general question, the truth is that governments and the brewers did not anticipate the problem of abuse. The rise in consumption did not cause the enormous increase in the number of off-licences, wine shops and supermarket drink counters; nor was that rise followed by a fall in the price of alcohol relative to income levels.
Drinking is an age-old pleasure. I like it myself. But there is a problem and it will not simply be blustered away.
Christopher Roberts Foxglove Cottage, Burley Lawn, Burley, Hants Sir; Auberon Waugh's article on alcoholism (20-27 December) is a perfect example of a statistical argument. However, he is wrong: in 1977 government figures showed that some 700,000 people had an alcohol problem in this country. Take into account the 'social ripple effect' in the families of those concerned, and you do have a major problem.
Using figures for deaths isn't enough. Far more physical damage is done long before death occurs. We have been fighting to rehabilitate recovering alcoholics for the past 17 years.
Brian Arbety 'Turning Point', 8 Strutton Ground, London SW1
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