OUR government, in my opinion, has some of most intelligent ministers we have seen in 15 years.

So why then have they chosen not to tackle the source of binge drinking in the home and on our streets? I feel what has been presented will serve little benefit and amounts to nothing more than a headline-grabber. The hospitality trade, the police and the medical profession have all indicated that the problem is the readily available cheap alcohol by off-sales.

Each year we have increased excise duty, which then has VAT charged on top. This only serves to penalise already struggling bars and their customers. We must also consider the little effect minimum pricing, inclusive of the cost of Excise Duty and VAT, has had on the now fashionable trend to pre-load in cheap alcohol before leaving the home.

Supermarkets and multiple retailers specialising in off-sales alcohol are clearly not fazed by the threat of duty or VAT increases, nor minimum pricing. Supermarkets choose to sell alcohol way below purchase cost, make a loss and claim VAT and tax relief. Unlike supermarket' with other income streams to switch to, the bar trade has one main sale product – alcohol. Supermarkets seemingly care little as to what product is their loss leader, they can make up the difference on a multitude of other product ranges. I would like to put forwward some simple proposals, including

A minimum price per alcohol unit pre-duty and VAT

Restricted areas of shelf display in off-sales premises

Designated tills for alcohol and tobacco purchases

A minimum age limit of 21 to purchase off-sales

A separate higher VAT to off-sales

I believe measures such as these would go some way to reducing antisocial behaviour and relieve the pressure on the NHS and police. The Government must re-balance the sale of alcohol by the regulated bar trade and that of unregulated supermarket sales and home consumption.

In my view, cheap, discounted, readily available off-sales are the problem.

Are the supermarkets that powerful they can tell our government what not to do?

TAM MACPHERSON

Plymouth