THE Government has done more kite flying, this time about Britain's appalling drinking problem, which is said to cost the National Health Service £1.7 billion alone.

As usual its proposal is to put the main burden on to business for sorting out a problem the Government has done nothing to tackle.

"Marshals" patrolling the streets may help, but they are unlikely to penetrate to the residential areas where drunken and loutish behaviour now goes unchecked.

There needs to be visible policing, a night in the police cell for the perpetrators and penalties that reflect the annoyance and upset caused by the so- called "minor offences" of drunk and disorderly behaviour including urinating in a public place and criminal damage.

It is not much good blaming pubs and clubs for the fact that there are no public conveniences.

The problem is not so much cheap drinks - Britain has some of the most expensive in Europe - but cheap politics.

The Government hopes that if it gets the right headlines for a couple of days the problem will go away.

If York is to remain a pleasant place to live and socialise it will take a little more effort than that.

William Hanbury,

South Parade,

York.

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, March 17, 2004