WE also wish luck to the people running the North-East Big Drink Debate.

Can we change?

Well, who would have thought ten years ago that a ban on smoking in pubs would be universally accepted on health grounds (although the economic grounds have certainly not proved so healthy for the publicans)?

So, of course we can change.

But the smoking ban shows that we need strong steerage from the Government.

Will the Government be brave enough to take on the supermarkets and the manufacturers who sell super-strength lager and fiery cider at pocket money prices?

Hopefully, the survey can provide ammunition to persuade the Government to assist its people, for alcoholism blights too many lives and binge-drinking blights too many town centres and communities.