I am 16 years old and had spoken to a number of people about problems they had with children drinking.
This raised a question. How on earth do people of my age get their hands on alcohol? I decided to find out.
My first target was a small off-licence in a Dundee housing scheme.
I went in, picked up a basket and put two bottles of Blue Wicked in, went to the counter and asked for a half bottle of vodka.
I was not asked for ID.
I then went to a large supermarket and put two bottles of Bacardi in my basket. Again no challenge.
Next I went into a bar in the city centre and was served with a bottle of beer.
I later went back to the places where I had bought the drink and faced the people who sold it to me. They were shocked.
My message to the small shops and the big boys in the supermarket chains is to get your act together and think of the dangers alcohol can do to children.
On October 1, cigarettes can only be sold to people over 18. We’ll see! — Undercover.
PS. The drink was handed in to the police.
Bus problems
I am a driver for Stagecoach and over the last few weeks new timetables, routes and price systems have come into use.
I have no idea who or when a survey of bus usage was done, but the changes do not fit the public need.
Buses do not connect and drivers are not trained for the new routes.
The problem has been since Stagecoach took over Strathtay. This has led to a poor service for the public. — Driver.
Selfish parkers
Some PEOPLE with a car and a works vehicle think they have the right to park both outside their front door. There are also some families where I live that have three or four vehicles.
These prevent others getting their only car parked at their door. Can neighbours be less selfish? Consideration would be nice. — Fintry Mum.
Bookies rejected
I point out to Smarten Up about bookies in the Murraygate and Whitehall Street that Dundee City Council rejected these applications.
The companies then appealed to the Scottish Executive who ordered the council to grant the licences. — Planning Watcher.
Bollard takes a beating
The site of the battered bollard
Sitting IN traffic on Clepington Road, Dundee, waiting to turn into Kingsway Retail Park, I watched a Tayside Contracts pick-up pull up on the central reservation at the rear goods entrance to the retail park (for Tesco etc).
A young man then got out and proceeded to place direction stands (white arrows/blue backgrounds) over a demolished central bollard.
Since the retail park opened I do not know how many times this scene has been repeated as this bollard is constantly demolished by heavy goods vehicles exiting west into Clepington Road.
HGVs need a greater space to manoeuvre, so remove this small section of central reservation. It would cost the taxpayer less in the long term.
Please publish a picture of this unfortunate bollard. — Ian Morton.
Miley used as dump
I am one of a group of Scottish Wildlife Trust enthusiasts who give up our time to pick up litter on the Miley in Dundee.
We were astonished to find a sofa, a television and a spotlight dumped next to the path.
The broken glass is a danger to children and dogs.
Then we found a number of black bags filled with garden rubbish thrown over the bridge at Harestane Road.
The people who did this would be up in arms if rubbish was dumped on their property.
Over the years the trust members have worked hard to make the Miley a good place for wildlife and a pleasant walk.
It is there for everyone to enjoy. Please do not use it as a dump. — Mary Harwood.
Difficult to believe bridge findings
I find it difficult to believe the findings of the recent independent report on the renewal of bridge tolls in Scotland.
Congestion will probably remain unaffected as the only way to cross the Tay or Forth is on these bridges so it is unlikely traffic will increase.
Nobody can seriously be suggesting people are at present detouring via Kincardine or Perth to avoid paying tolls.
In fact, a major cause of congestion is the continued closure of one of the southbound lanes on the Tay. Re-opening this, coupled with the removal of toll booths, should improve congestion. – David Lamb, Tayport.
Toll question
John Swinney will press ahead with the removal of tolls from the Forth and Tay road bridges despite a report predicting increased congestion and environmental damage.
His coalition buddies the Greens are fizzing. Why then do they continue to prop up the SNP administration? — Curious Observer.
Monifeith neglect
I live in Monifieth and I too feel Angus Council is ignoring us.
Since Angus took over Monifieth from the Dundee District Council, they have only done work on the playpark at the front. The centre is a dump.
If Tesco leaves then Monifieth would be a ghost town.
When the Open came I would have thought Monifieth would have had some work done to it. But no. Angus doesn’t care. They only want the money. — Greg Fenton.
Excellent idea
Puzzled WROTE about Lothian and Borders Police employing security officers to patrol their HQ.
Why is he puzzled? I think it is an excellent idea.
If the police employ someone at less cost to take care of building security then officers can be out and about patrolling the streets. — Yella Jaiket.
Shadow of Aids
HIV/Aids has cast a massive shadow on Southern Africa. In Zimbabwe and Swaziland more than one in three are infected.
Malawi is relatively well off with a 15% infection rate.
But with a total of 560 nurses to cater for a population of 13.6 million, it faces many challenges, not least from the attractions offered by NHS in Britain.
As Oxfam struts around commenting on the war in Iraq, it may do well to remember the disaster in Africa that has unfolded under its very nose. — Observer.
Not listening
NEW LEADER Wendy Alexander says she will change the Labour Party in Scotland.
She will listen to the people, but many politicians only listen to what they want to hear. Scotland needs politicians who truly believe in Scotland and what is best for the people, not what is in it for them.
We have a few like this, so let us hope they grow in numbers. — G. O. B.
Don’t release Biggs
I don’t think train robber Ronnie Biggs should be released. What about the driver Jack Mills who died in 1970 after struggling to recover?
Biggs was a violent criminal who doesn’t deserve a place in society. — Another Westender.
Tracing friend
I am trying to trace an old friend, Aileen Thompson who lived in Dalkeith Road, Dundee.
We worked together in the Lockwoods canning factory in Carnoustie in the early 60s. — Mrs Maria Rodgers (nee Zammit), 14 Springbank Grove, Cheltenham, GL51 0PQ (tel 01242 237517).
THE ADDRESS for readers’ letters is - Readers’ Page, Evening Telegraph, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. They can also be placed in our post box at our offices in Albert Square, Dundee, emailed to us on letters@eveningtelegraph.co.uk or faxed on 01382 454590. We ask correspondents using a nom-de-plume or sending by e-mail to provide a name and address for reference purposes. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any letter. Please keep letters as short as possible.*
