EU drinking comparisons

Madam, - "Irish drinking levels at double EU average", read a headline in your edition of March 10th.

Madam, - "Irish drinking levels at double EU average", read a headline in your edition of March 10th.

The Irish, per capita, may well, alas, have drunk more alcohol than other EU citizens in 1999. But how reliable is the graph displayed with the article when "the report does not define regular drinking"? I find it hard to believe that the wine-producing countries of Italy, Spain and France should have such low percentages of the population "regularly drinking alcohol". - Yours, etc.,

ANDREW J. STYNES, Temple Vale, Ballintemple, Cork.