DRINKERS and smokers must be among the highest tax payers in the land, given the amount of duty they hand over in order to indulge their proclivities.

Small businesses are struggling in a still fragile economic climate and every time one goes under, more people join the dole queue.

This in turn means more people without jobs who have no choice but to spend less, making it harder for the firms that are still going to make any money. A vicious circle indeed.

So. Let’s make it impossible for smokers to enjoy a drink and a fag indoors and let’s make it impossible for drinkers to enjoy a drink and a fag outside.

That way, no one will go to the pub, the pub will go bust, all the people who worked there will be unemployed and they won’t spend the money they don’t have helping to keep other businesses afloat.

A sure fire way to wreck the economy.

My heart goes out to the landlady of the Castle Inn in Old Town who can no longer let her punters take their drinks outside after 9.30pm.

She’s only trying to make an honest living in harsh economic times.

And, for the time being at least, having a smoke and drink is perfectly legal.

I hope someone will come to their senses soon.

CE BILLINGS Newport Street Swindon