Astwood, supported the decision of the Liquor Licensing Authority not to have liquor sold in sensitive areas around schools. This is an important decision which we see as a very constructive step towards the future.

For some time, under considerable fire from the purveyors of alcohol and from the Bermuda Licensed Victuallers block, this newspaper has advocated the dispensing of alcohol with a social conscience. Now we have a very hopeful and forward looking decision which takes notice of the welfare of people, especially young people. The Chief Justice said, in his decision supporting a licence refusal by the Liquor Licensing Authority, that liquor "should not be available for sale to anyone in such an important and sensitive district where young people are engaged in academic pursuits''.

We should, of course, be just as careful when granting licences in areas where young people are engaged in athletic pursuits.

This recognises what the National Alcohol and Drug Agency has said for a long time, that consideration should be given to the impact of a licence on areas of Bermuda before a licence is granted. Notice should be taken of the mechanical and technical requirements of selling alcohol in an area but it must also be taken of the social and environmental impact of alcohol on an area. This is important because there are areas of Bermuda which have been degraded by the sale of alcohol. It is interesting that both the Liquor Licensing Authority, in the first instance, and the Chief Justice, on appeal, were influenced by the fact that there is a wooded area close to the licensed premises where loiterers might gather and possibly become a nuisance. It seems to us that this takes direct note of the National Alcohol and Drug Agency's idea that Bermuda should be very aware of the undesirable impact alcohol has had on some easily identified neighbourhoods. We all know of places where there is a licence and where there is a constant problem because people loiter and drink.

While in no way being prohibitionist, this newspaper has also advocated curbs on the "pushing'' of alcohol to the public, recognising the destructive power of alcohol and thus advocating dispensing alcohol with a social conscience.

The Chief Justice seems to agree with that stand when he says in his judgment: "I do not think that the licensing policy of the authority should be to encourage the use of alcoholic beverages.'' In other words, the Liquor Licensing Authority should not encourage "pushing''.

As we see it, when one of the Country's major problems is alcohol abuse, this is the eminently sensible way to proceed -- always consider the consequences of the abuse of alcohol.