THE efforts of Sgt Richard Nettleship and Tavistock Forward chairman John Taylor in tackling drunken anti-social behaviour in the town are to be commended. Every citizen of Tavistock and beyond should have an undisputed right to feel safe and unintimidated in the town at any given time of day. However, Tavistock also consists of many civilised, non-rowdy youths who enjoy who enjoy the moderate social consumption of alcohol. While Sgt Nettleship may be satisfied that ?retailers in the town are generally being responsible?, he and Mr Taylor fail to appreciate that the tone of their comments are indirectly putting such individuals through increasingly unpleasant and humiliating transactions when they attempt to purchase alcoholic products from the town?s retailers. I do not feel that it is unreasonable to demand that Sgt Nettleship and Mr Taylor should publicly endorse the practice of polite and respectful requests for proof of identification rather than the suspicious and thoroughly unpleasant procedures which Tavistock?s retailers, bar staff and club doormen are increasingly inflicting upon the town?s responsible youthful adults. Richard Orchard Windy Ridge Midella Road Yelverton
