WITH reference to the article “Calling time on excessive drinking” (The Press July 28), when you read social history, in the 1830-40s people in authority were talking about the same thing.

In the big cities at the weekends there were many people full of drink staggering around and others lying in the gutters.

Things have changed slightly for the better, in those days you had not just public houses, but beerhouses (jerry shops) there could be three or four of these in a street, hush-houses (ie secret drinking places not licensed) and secret distilleries not visited by the police.

Thankfully, apart from the pubs, all of these have gone and even some of them have disappeared. But now the supermarkets have taken over.

I don’t know the answer, but perhaps if they could see themselves - especially the girl - they might think twice before they over indulge.

Maureen Robinson, Broadway, York.