WHILE it is always terrible when a young person loses their life, I think some perspective is required when considering closing riverside drinking areas and gating off access to the rivers at night (Alexander Ogilvy and Nick Fletcher, Letters, July 29).

People wander into the road and get knocked down after excessive consumption of alcohol, but do we fence off both sides of the road?

While the idea of a charity-funded rescue boat is commendable and I hope may save lives, please don’t turn our beautiful city into something resembling an industrial riverside frontage.

The issues are first and foremost excessive consumption of alcohol and secondly the exuberance of youth.

Education would appear to be the only viable remedy other than more restriction on the supply of alcohol to the inebriated.

C Gilham, Dunnington, York.