WITH reference to the report "Bar staff sold booze to teens" (April 14), I have worked in the licensed trade for several years, and I feel sorry for the "guilty parties", the bar staff.

Also, having carried an ID card for 45 years of my working life, I feel the following comments are justified.

If everybody carried ID cards, the problem would be solved instantly. Bar staff would have no doubts and ask for ID in every situation. The pressure would be then on the individual requesting the alcoholic drink, and not on the person carrying out their routine employment.

To say that this is an abuse of human rights is ridiculous as more than 50 per cent (a figure mentioned in some government reports) of the population must already carry some sort of ID card. All military; all government services including police, fire brigade, hospital staff; all civil servants, crown servants; all Members of Parliament; all students; all members of international companies and large UK companies.

That must have covered 90 per cent of the working population.

Take into account the number of ex-members of any of these services who still carry their ID as a matter of routine or as memorabilia; I am sure that the figure is way above any government estimate. Not to carry ID would be a criminal offence; also, no way would you get a drink. Okay, all systems can be abused, but not to the extent of the current drinking regulations.

Les Good,

Woodland Chase,

York.

Updated: 10:14 Wednesday, April 19, 2006