Maybe it is time for the media and "those in charge" to realise it's a disenfranchised youth problem, not a booze problem.
Do I think the media and Gummint will change their continued pursuit of banning everything in sight to punish the many instead of the few bad uns. Not really.
We are definitely being ruled by the vocal minority when it comes to setting laws.
Shame really.
Roy Edwards, Tauranga
Unbalanced views
Simon Bridges suggests that Prof. Doug Sellman's stance, on alcohol law reform is unbalanced, calling him "almost a prohibitionist" on public radio last week.
If Sellman's stance is unbalanced, then Simon is saying the World Health Organisation, Sir Geoffrey Palmer and the majority of the 9000 community and expert submitters on the Government's weak legislation are unbalanced too.
What's going on Simon?Jane PuckeyMount MaunganuiCommunity spiritOur family would like to commend the local Tongan community on their pride and patriotism for their rugby team and country.
We have enjoyed your flags, tooting and Friday's parade.
We staid Kiwis could learn a thing from you.
Good on ya.
N A & J Thompson, Katikati
Classical taste
On Friday night along with the rest of the country I watched on television the opening ceremony to the Rugby World Cup.
It was fantastic, the rugby wasn't too bad either, shame about the downtown transport woes.
The rugby anthem World in Union is always stirring and I hope that those who listen to it silently acknowledge who it really belongs to.
It is a classical piece of music called Jupiter and is from The Planets by Gustav Holst and I have listened to it for years.
There are young trendies who eschew much music from the classical era as "old fogies" territory.
I am more old fogie than young trendy and the music of Mozart in the television advertisement for Harvey Norman always catches my attention. I also like Rod Stewart, Meatloaf, The Rolling Stones.
A young heavy-metaller once told me that he accidentally heard Pachelbel's Canon in D and thought it was the most awesome music he had ever heard, it was written 330 years ago.
Old Wolfgang, Gustav et al will always be around, I am not so sure about Meatloaf.
Robin Bishop, Pyes Pa
Fertile climate
I had to chuckle at the article reporting that the Tauranga maternity unit is at full capacity and even overflowing at times (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, September 3).
We have the good fortune to visit The Mount every month for a few days and on my morning walk to get the newspaper at the dairy opposite the hot pools, I am always amazed at the virtual army of "young mums" there. There they are every morning, parking their cars, unloading their smart push-chairs and walking or jogging, often in convoys, along the boardwalk or around The Mount. I have discussed this with my wife as it's concerning me.
It has to be something directly attributable to the area - whether its the BOP climate, the drinking water or the hot pools - I really don't know.
But's its all a bit worrying as my wife and I are over 65 years and we don't want to catch this bug - whatever it is.
David Hallett, Auckland
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