IT was with surprise and puzzlement that I spotted a notice displayed outside Richmond School for a premises licence to enable the school to sell alcohol seven days a week, 365 days a year from 9am to 11pm.

As far as I am aware, the main function of a school is to provide education and learning to children during the day and certainly not to be able to supply alcohol which to me is incompatible with the normal daily functioning of a school.

As far as I am aware, Richmond School is a "healthy school" and the consumption of alcohol is considered anything but healthy although I fully realise that it will not be the students, I hope, who will be consuming it.

I have attended numerous concerts and events in the evening at the school when wine has been for sale and have never been aware that there was any issue in gaining the appropriate permission to sell alcohol at these events, which are not predominantly held during the school day.

I can however see absolutely no need for the school to have a full premises license and cannot understand why they might need one. Perhaps someone could enlighten me?

Mirren Hunter, Richmond.