DRINKING AFTER HOURS.

Mt Benger Mail, 15 September 1920, Page 3

DRINKING AFTER HOURS.

(To the Editor.) sir.—Will you allow me a small space in your columns to protest against what appears to be an uncontrolled breach of the licensing laws, namely the serving of drink by the hotels after the hour of 0 o'clock in the evening. As one who is associated with most socials held in the Athenaeum I have the opportunity of observing the disgraceful condition of inebriety in which a number of young fellows (happily not a large number) appear. Early in the night they are usually in a fairly respectable condition, but later, after frequent excursions down the alley from the back door of the hall, they become more boisterous, and their language more Objectionable, until the back room and door-way is a disgraceful place for a lady to have to pass through. It is scandalous that those who come for a night's decent enjoyment at a dance should have to suffer through contaef with those young men who seem to have no respect for their manhood. The cause of their state is not hard to locatq. On innumerable occasions I have seen the licensee of one ol' our hotels come into the back room and depart shortly after accompanied by one or two of the "half-drunks," and more than once I have followed them to the street and seen them go into the front door of nil hotel. And wliere is our constable at these times ? Engaged in important business elsewhere? Perhaps. But if this state of affairs is the result of inefficiency in our local police force then surely it is time a rigorous protest, signed by a fair representation of the public, and supported by the Mayor and Borough Council, was sent to police headquarters, and this should have the effect of providing the law-abiding citizens of Roxburgh with more adequate pilice protection.—l am, etc..

H. J. VERNON, Dumbarton, September 8, 1920.