I AM an alcoholic in my 25th year of recovery.

Having pubs open 24 hours would not have solved my problem.

I spent two months in hospital in 1987 and, although it cost the country a lot of money, I believe that 25 years later – with only a handful of days off sick – I have justified the cost.

This country needs to look at the availability of drink and the low cost per unit has to be addressed not just in supermarkets but via the special drinks offers in pubs as well.

To live in denial of the problem is insane.

I would not want pubs to close as I agree they are a social place and I use them for occasional meals.

Please do not open them any longer because you only need to look at the real figures from the NHS to realise that it is a real problem.

Martin Flanagan, Catterick Garrison.