With reference to GC Lau's letter ([#1] T'ganu right to ban public drinking [/#], April 12), the US does ban public drinking so that people do not walk around drunk and cause other problems. And, yes, one can also be fined for having opened a can while seated in the car - a measure to avoid drunk driving.

Someone may also point out that there are also counties and towns (something like our daerah and

mukim ) that are 'dry' - meaning no alcohol sale. But this doesn't mean one cannot go to another county to get alcohol. As a matter of fact, one would notice a lot of drive-through liquor stores just across the county line.

However, I must disagree with the writer's statement: "There is no coffee shop that sells beer over there, unlike here". While there are no coffee shops in the US like the ones we have here, the restaurants and other food places that you can walk into as easily as you would a coffee shop, do sell alcohol.

Alcoholism is becoming a little out of hand in our local scene. A major problem is the blatant sale of alcohol to the 'less than responsible' teenagers now seen frequenting the clubs. Now I was shocked when I came back to Penang during my summer break. I saw students from my school who are supposed to be in Form Three drinking at a bar. I do think there's something seriously wrong with that.

In the US, I must say that though it is not perfect, the 21-year-old drinking age is quite strictly implemented. Those buying alcohol will be carded (have their age verified on the ID/IC). Those caught selling to the underaged are severely penalised.

While I do not advocate the draconian-like ban of all alcohol sales, there should be some form of control in alcohol sale. And the same with tobacco products.

Shouldn't there be some stricter control to prevent the 14-year-old next to you at a bus stop smoking away the little savings they try to scrape up?

Hopefully, by the time they grow up a little, there'll be more thought processes applied to the decision of smoking and drinking.