WHAT’S all the fuss about a pub opening in Stockton selling a pint for £1.50 (Echo, Mar 24)?

It has been happening for years. It’s called Wetherspoons, and other pubs do it too.

The real problem with cheap booze is supermarkets.

A couple of weeks ago I did my shopping in Morrison’s and many of the aisles were full of cases of beer and lager – ten cans for £8.

Stockton Borough Council won’t do anything about that. It brings in too much revenue.

If a PoundPub is to cheapen the image of the town centre, what do Poundland and other discount stores do?

My concern with pubs selling cheap drink is the opening hours. I had to go into town early and popped into the Tanners Hall to use the toilet.

The place was full of drinkers and that was 9.30am. I think 11am is early enough.

I wouldn’t worry about the image of Stockton town centre. It will be like any other – full of sandwich and charity shops, unless Harrods are thinking of moving up North.

John Brant, Darlington.

AS a man who likes to drink a pint of beer at a pub and socialise and know my limit, the main problem I encounter is seeing so many pubs having to close.

I do recognise that there is a national drink problem, because so many hospital admissions are down to excessive drinking.

Social responsibility is not always evident. There is a dichotomy between those who seek to regulate and commercial outlets who hate any regulation.

Pubs are in a difficult position because they cannot permit smoking inside and retail outlets sell alcohol at cheap prices. To stay open, pubs are obliged to offer inducements.

If a pub chain can afford to reduce its prices it will do so, and it is interesting that some are proposing to open their doors at 8am. I have not seen that, even in Amsterdam, where I feel liberty is rife.

Excessive alcohol consumption, like recreational drugs, is a symptom of the ills of society and there may be a connection with mental health.

There is a case for better health education and a search for getting to the roots of the problems which bring about so much ill-health.

I am not sure that there is any mileage in councillors in Stockton becoming angry about what businesses do to make sales and profits.

G Bulmer, Billingham.