Putting pubs out of business

Sir, – Sam Colbert (November 15th) blames the Government for the decline of the Irish pub

Sir, – Sam Colbert (November 15th) blames the Government for the decline of the Irish pub. Perhaps things are better at his local, but the reason I rarely darken the doors of mine is that it does not serve the things I want to drink.

There are almost two dozen breweries in Ireland today; my local serves beer from just two of them, and the less said about the wine selection the better.

It’s high time more pubs looked at what they offer the customer. If clean air and reasonably-priced soft drinks had already been available there would have been less call for a smoking ban or stricter drink-driving laws. – Yours, etc,

JOHN DUFFY,

Lower Kimmage Road,

Dublin 6W.