I TOTALLY agree with Brian Corrigan (HAS, Oct 16). It is not the ban on smoking in pubs (hooray) which keeps people out, it is the sky-high prices of ales and even the soft drinks charged by the greedy breweries.

Why should I and other decent, law-abiding citizens be penalised for the loutish behaviour of drunken yobs. Lock them up – it’s what the law is for, to protect the people.

To increase the price of alcohol per unit is just another excuse to raise taxes, which I believe will drive more and more people away from public houses.

Andrew White, Richmond, North Yorkshire.