Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Jenny Hjul got it right with her article on under-age drinking (November 7). The example she gave of parents actually being at home when teenagers were drinking themselves silly at a daughter’s party exhibited disgraceful behaviour by all involved, but especially the parents.
When our daughters were in their teens 30 years ago the pressures were already there, with our two asking us to go out during their parties and protesting that that was what all the other parents did.
We stayed put, shifted all the booze up to a bedroom and watched telly or read there throughout the party, supervising the departure of the guests at a reasonable hour.
Other parents were not so lucky, returning home to find their houses trashed; very upset young hosts being unable to keep out gatecrashers, or control them.
In France youngsters grow up with wine as the accepted drink at the evening meal and learn early on a gentler culture where alcohol is enjoyed, but generally in moderation.
Unfortunately, too many young Brits think it is cool to pour alcohol down their throats as fast as possible with the specific aim of becoming helplessly drunk.
It is for parents to try to show their teenage children the safe and civilised approach to alcohol as a pleasant accompaniment to meals and social gatherings where it can be enjoyed without drinking to excess and without spoiling the enjoyment of others by drunken and outrageous behaviour.
The sooner we outlaw binge drinking, the better for all concerned.
The police could make a start by making all street teenage drunks cool their heels in the cells for a night or a weekend and the courts could back them up by calling the parents in and imposing appropriate fines on both!
George K McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Other issues are ignored
Sir, – All of the present ongoing talk and discussions via the Parliament in Edinburgh about Scottish independence and the related referendum planned for 2014 appear to be a total distraction from realistic progress, or relevant action.
Also, the proliferation of wind turbines is not exactly the top priority either.
I would suggest that politicians concentrate their efforts on public concerns such as social problems, unemployment, required increase in business investment, review of immigration status etc.
Companies down south and from abroad are starting to hold back on investment in Scotland because of the uncertainty over independence and the subject of a potential Scottish application to join the EU all because the SNP are getting carried away with their self-importance.
Thankfully, it is becoming more apparent that the Scottish public are beginning to recognise the significant problems that could occur if the SNP continues with its policy of independence within the EU.
Harry Lawrie.35 Abbots Mill,Kirkcaldy.
Why such a difference?
Sir, – I am no fan of windmills they are 10 times the cost of conventional power, intermittent, unreliable and tend to destabilise the smooth voltage on which the grid and modern technology depend. However, I have sympathy with windmillers’ dismay over the price increase to £775 million of a cable between the Western Isles and the mainland.
The Aberdeen bypass, at £23.3 million a mile, is eight times more expensive than new roads across the EU and the US. The same applies to the new Forth crossing, which is eight times more expensive, after adjusting for inflation, than the previous Forth bridge.
By comparison, a few years ago Norway signed a contract with Nexans to lay a much longer cable (292km) at a cost of $98 million (then about £50 million) in the North Sea. This seems to be the normal cost in the rest of the world.
Thus, in this case we are greatly exceeding the normal situation of Scottish public projects costing eight times what they do elsewhere. In this case it looks like well above 15 times.
Before the Forth crossing contract was signed I emailed every MSP asking why so much of the money goes walkabout but got only one, not entirely coherent, reply.
Can none of our elected leaders tell us why everything they do costs us so many times more than it would elsewhere and where all the money actually goes?
Neil Craig.200 Woodlands Road,Glasgow.
It is right they have a say
Sir, – I have heard it said recently that the views about Donald Trump’s development at Menie from people outwith the north east should be disregarded as it is purely a local issue.
If this is the case then it is unlikely the golf course would have been built as it was John Swinney from the Scottish Government in Edinburgh who helped to over-rule the decision of the infrastructure committee of the local Aberdeenshire Council.
John Swinney is on record as having said at the time the development was of national importance to Scotland.
In a democracy, therefore, it stands to reason that people nationally should be allowed to have their say.
Robert T Smith.30 Braeside Terrace,Aberdeen.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.