Alcohol abuse ruins our nation

THE Commission on Liquor Licensing has been tackling a variety of issues. These range from the cost of liquor licences, to the contentious bone of the publican's rights to refuse drink to anyone deemed unfit to consume more, to the presence of children in bars or the inflated price of soft drinks in public houses.

Gordon Holmes, chairman of the Commission on Liquor Licensing, is particularly concerned about alcohol abuse, especially among young people.

He believes the key is education, not raising the price of drink, considering that prices here are already among the dearest in Europe. Young people should be informed about the risks of alcohol and other drugs as part of the curriculum.