IT WAS no surprise to read in the news that many people have turned to drink during the pandemic which has led to a rise in deaths from alcohol abuse.

Alcohol is the easiest drug to turn to when people feel depressed or worried.

To most people drink helps them with stress, worry and alleviates boredom but it can become a terrible problem that destroys lives and innocent family members suffer.

In a way, there has always been a pandemic of deaths caused by alcoholism but society has always been prepared to accept this as the price for being able to drink alcohol.

Paddy Maxwell

Lordshill