Madam, - I am amazed at the double standard when it comes to the criticism of the GAA in relation to alcohol. On my last visit home during the Six Nations rugby tournament I saw advertised prominently the Guinness rugby pack, which contains eight large cans of Guinness, a play on the pack of forwards in a rugby team. Eight large cans of Guinness in one sitting would certainly inebriate most of us.
Guinness is also the "official" beer of the IRFU. Not to mention that there is a prominent alcohol culture within the rugby fraternity where the consumption of large amounts of alcohol is a celebrated achievement.
There is frequent criticism from many quarters of the GAA's acceptance of Guinness sponsorship for the hurling championship while the IRFU gets off scot-free for the same thing.
While I do not feel that this sponsorship contributes to the much-touted alcohol abuse problem in Ireland, it seems obvious that some sporting organisations are getting a free pass while others are not. - Yours, etc,
RORY O'DONNELL, Milton, Massachusetts.