IF York's publicans want to find out how to avoid being busted by the city council's trading standards officers, they could do worse than make a fact-finding expedition to Austin, Texas ("More caught in teen booze net", December 17).

I visited the city for a conference last month. In one of the bars there I was required to produce ID before being served, for the first time in my life. Given that I am 32 years old, 6ft 3in tall and was wearing a suit at the time, I suppose I should take that as a compliment.

I also had to explain to the lady behind the bar what a gin and tonic is, but that's another story.

Leo Enticknap,

Ingram House,

Bootham,

York.

Updated: 09:56 Tuesday, December 20, 2005