KEITH SHARP, of Barton Crescent, Dawlish, writes: Do I detect the firm hand of 'authority' behind John Balment's report (Post, May 26) about late-night drunken behaviour in Teignmouth and Dawlish? If so, I'm afraid that Mr Balment's informant is way off-beam, at least as far as Dawlish is concerned. Crime, as the local constable repeatedly tells the town council, is at a very low level. There are, of course, isolated outbreaks of criminal damage, but so long as there are people in the world there always will be. The report does, however, raise the crucial issue of drunkenness and the availability of alcohol, especially to those over the age of 18. I wonder how those allegedly responsible for anti-social behaviour got drunk in the first place? Could it be that they were served alcohol by local publicans? It is, of course, an offence to serve anybody already inebriated. This can result in the premises being closed. I'm sure your readers will be aware that the Torquay nightclub Route 66 has just had its licence suspended following a spate of drunken incidents. The club is owned by Simon Chalk, the round-the-world yachtsman who, I believe, has some connection with Teignmouth. It has been closed for three months. I only wish that the licensing authorities could be persuaded to get tough with other clubs and pubs inclined to flout the law. A couple of years ago a well-known Dawlish pub exhorted New Year revellers to 'drink 'til you drop'. What action did the authorities take? None. If the police want to reduce the potential for criminal damage, they should perhaps concentrate on the places selling alcohol. To paraphrase Tony Blair: we must be tough on drunks, and tough on the causes of drunkenness. After all prevention is better than cure. In the meantime, those of us who do not engage in criminal behaviour, ie the vast majority, are to have our civil liberties infringed by a network of spy cameras. The cost of running these cameras, if they are to be monitored around the clock, amounts to more than the cost of mending a few windows. Cheaper still would be to send a policeman to remind publicans and bartenders of Mr Chalk's fate.
