I MUST say that 24-hour drinking seems to be having a very unpleasant affect on some members of our society.

From early in the morning where drinkers can been seen cheerfully necking a pint at breakfast to long lunches and booze-filled afternoons.

They probably just have time for a quick nap before they go out for the evening!

The main desire seems to be to get completely wasted.

Passing one of our town centre hostelries at lunchtime, I couldn't help but notice a booze-fuelled group who made up for their lack of vocabulary (apart from the f-word) with how loud they could shout.

Obviously they believed their fascinating conversation should be heard by all.

But that's no surprise really as one foul-mouthed individual told his pals how he was going to punch someone's lights outs (only in not quite so polite terms).

Not for them the rigours of every day toil at work.

Yes, I'm making assumptions but I think I've been on this planet long enough to know the difference between someone enjoying a well-earned relaxing pint on a day off to a professional scrounger.

The most challenging demands on their brain cells (if they've not all been destroyed by alcohol) is probably whose round is it next.

And the most depressing thing is how many of these people drag their children along with them.

Most of these pubs aren't the sort to cater for children.

There are no grassy play areas or ball pools - simply some sort of outdoor seating to cater for the smokers.

What better way to spend your school holidays than to be seated on dirty gravel at the feet of your 'parents' while they drink and smoke themselves to death.

There should be a law against it.