Sir, – Surely any restrictions on alcohol promotions imposed on pubs and clubs, as has been recently proposed, should also apply to supermarkets.

Penalising landlords for having customers who become a public nuisance won’t stop revellers “pre-drinking” bottles of cheap supermarket vodka before setting off, as shown on TV.

It makes me wonder why politicians appear to be frightened of confronting supermarkets and worried about upsetting them.

If people become a public nuisance through alcohol and have to be taken to hospital or a police station, they should automatically be fined £250. Also, fine parents, if offenders are under age.

This would be popular with voters and release hospital staff to spend more time with genuine patients.

If in America, Obama can “grasp the nettle?” with regard to banking reform, there is every reason for our politicians to stop looking at life from ivory towers and make decisive fair policy concerning unruly drinkers and say – yes we can!

LINTON GAUNT Snape, Bedale.