Alcohol debate

I agree with Matt Cooper (Jul 14) when he says we ought to have a rational public debate about alcohol consumption, but unfortunately I feel we all know, including Mr Cooper, it’s never going to happen.

If such a debate were to take place it would mean accepting that we as a race have a deep and worrying relationship, not just with alcohol, but many other mood-altering drugs.

Public adult drunkenness is acceptable and accepted in Irish society. Until, as Mr Cooper says, we adults change our attitude to alcohol consumption, the younger generation are going to continue to grow up with the drunk adult as the worst example of how to drink.