SO a specialist team is to be set up to deal with Bolton's alcohol problem, especially among the younger generation.

Not once did I read in the article, or indeed in your comment, that one of the main causes of the explosion of "binge drinking" and alcoholic related problems, health, as well as crime, and anti-social behaviour, is the easy availability of this substance.

Can I suggest that it does not take a rocket scientist to realise that if alcohol is available 24 hours a day, as it obviously now is in Bolton and other towns, all the specialists in the world won't solve the problem. Perhaps if the powers that be allowed only certain outlets to sell alcohol, and banned the corner shops, newsagents, late shops etc, from selling booze, then just maybe we would see an improvement in our society.

Am I right in thinking that detoxification means to rid a patient of poison, or its effects? Perhaps if the said poison, or in this case alcohol, was not so easily available, then the patient would obviously feel the benefits immediately. Finally I feel sure that if these "booze outlets" ceased to sell alcohol to these kids, then everyone's quality of life would improve. And perhaps anti-social behaviour would become a thing of the past.

Mr A P Bennett

Babylon Lane

Adlington, Chorley