Sir, - The latest television commercial promoting the Lottery, begins by showing a family first thing in the morning. Alarm clocks, queues for the toilet, the general hustle and bustle that goes with getting everyone out to work and school, meanwhile, a couple are still asleep in bed.
At this point it is not clear what the ad is for. My instinctive reaction was to think that the couple still in bed must have recently suffered a bereavement in the family. Or perhaps they both had 'flu, or something similar. Meanwhile more clips of the vibrant family getting ready for the day. Eventually the final clip, back to the couple turning over in bed for more sleep followed by the usual slogan: "It could be you!"
I couldn't believe that the National Lottery was suggesting that having no reason to get up in the morning is a more attractive prospect than having numerous reasons to. It was the couple who were still in bed that provoked my sympathy, as I was sure some awful thing must have happened to them.
Having experienced unemployment myself in the past, I have experienced the reality of having nothing to get up for. It is souldestroying.
The reality to me is that whether you have a million pounds in the bank or 20 quid, the effects of having no real purpose would wear anyone down. I'm surprised that the National Lottery would not have had more insight regarding this matter. - Yours, etc.,
Terenure, Dublin 6.