Sir, I was saddened to read in the Guardian the article 'pulling the pints, pulling in the punters' about the planned increased opening hours for pubs in Tenby from 24/11. The article truly describes a typical Saturday night in Tenby - though it isn't just Saturdays is it. Since Tenby was first promoted as the ideal place for hen/stag parties several years ago, the town has become a true binge drinking hot spot, and with that comes the unnacceptable behaviour that goes with it, - drunks (men and women) urinating or throwing up anywhere they wish, causing frequent noise disturbance on their way home (particularly via Deer Park and down Greenhill Road). I've witnessed this kind of behaviour numerous times when I've been home and it is horrendous. It used to be that adults of all ages could enjoy a quiet drink in a Tenby pub - not now. Most pubs have bouncers on the doors, deafening 'music?' and an atmosphere that only encourages people to drink until they're 'off their heads'. Punch Taverns (who own the Mariners and Sun Inn) may have spent £3m to help their pubs in the UK get increased hours of opening, but I'd like to know what they, and other pub owners in Tenby, spend on protecting the environment they operate in - and I don't mean within their four walls. What do they do to try and prevent the noise nuisance, urinating, throwing up, vandalism caused by binge drinkers leaving their pubs at night? And sorry, but where are the police? Whitehall may 'encourage' councils to grant extensions to pub opening hours, but it doesn't mean councils have to do it if it increases an already out of control situation. Tenby is a beautiful place, but this kind of issue is killing the place - perhaps residents and exiles alike should lobby Nick Ainger heavily on this issue: I hate to see this special place I grew up in and still call 'home' turned into a public toilet because money rules.
Tenby Exile (Name and address supplied).