We all have a part to play to combat binge drinking'

We were delighted that Roger Protz praised the Coors Beer Naturally Campaign in last week's Morning Advertiser, but surprised that he chose to criticise big brewers for putting responsibility messages on our beers.

Irresponsible drinking is high on the media and Government agenda; it's a problem for society and it is a problem for beer and pubs. The few who drink irresponsibly give the whole sector a bad name. People won't want to drink beer or visit pubs if they are associated with violence and binge drinking.

We know these stereotypes are the minority. We are highlighting the positives of enjoying beer in moderation through the Beer Naturally Campaign; equally we do not shy away from asking people to avoid immoderation.

The Government's National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy called for partnership in tackling the minority who cause harm by their drinking and as "big brewers" we are able to play our part through messages such as these.

Others, of course, have their role to play too; as Roger is one of beer's most high-profile voices, it would be great if he could support all the excellent work that is being done across the industry to address a very real problem.

Paul Hegarty

External Communication Manager

Coors Brewers

Burton-upon-Trent

Staffordshire

Time for our villages to become viable again'

As the convenor of Future of Rural Society does not reside here from any choice of his own, and having undertaken more research into the downfall of our once proud living and working countryside, may I crave the indulgence of Morning Advertiser readers.

The villages of Britain, with their traditional inns and local characters, are all welcomed by the people of his country. But, given the dismal record of one Government to another in dismantling the very structures that matters to rural communities, is it any wonder that we have such a poor vision and record for the English countryside?.

All that was realised during 18 years of the Conservatives was the workshop culture. There was no respect for the need to strengthen the bases of our villages with local services and elements of need. And the loss of the agricultural workforce due to the lack of alternative employment has left many parts of the countryside void of anything.

So, the time is now ripe to let us see our villages become viable again. We need, for example, to be fairer to the aged losing their farms ­ and all else. And our traditional inns need local people to support them so that they can fulfil their true roles in the structure of our villages.

Up to now no one has taken the slightest notice of the demise of the British village. But as a displaced nurseryman with a life of nothing, I invite our elitist MPs ­ living in their mansions and taking up their fancy expenses so that they can retain their life styles ­ to do the same as Norman Tebbitt advised and "get on your bikes".

John E Willett

Convenor (Voluntary)

Future of Rural Society

14 Eastgate Road

Holmes Chapel

Cheshire

Portman's taking political correctness too far'

I do occasionally think that the current furore over binge drinking has led to excessive political correctness in respect of almost every aspect of licensed retailing. Last week provided a perfect example in the form of the Portman Group's ruling on Charles Wells' Sex on the Beach cocktail mix.

Portman, in its wisdom, ruled that Sex on the Beach created, in marketing terms, a direct or indirect link to sexual success. Now, pubs and clubs have been selling cocktails with saucy names since, virtually, the dawn of time. People in the UK like a risque joke, enjoy Carry On films and might even buy a ribald postcode on a trip to the seaside.

Isn't it about time that Portman revised its code to take account of the fact that people buying an alcoholic drink are, by definition, adults?

Bob Williams

Enfield

London