Are boorish and drunken spectators ruining sporting events?

THANK you, Martin Samuel, for highlighting unsocial drink-fuelled behaviour at racing and cricket matches (Sportsmail). My wife and I are regular race-goers who enjoy a drink, but we find the emphasis on alcohol sales at courses to be increasingly detrimental to the enjoyment of the day’s sport. Loud, boorish behaviour spoils the occasion for everyone else. I will not go to 20/20 cricket again after a Sussex evening match was ruined by chanting, abusive and foul language and booming music cheered on by hen parties with little interest in the game.

IAN ROBINSON, Burgess Hill, W. Sussex. my WIFe and I went once to Goodwood and will never go

again because it seemed that so many of the spectators were there just to drink as much as possible and make fools of themselves. They were so drunk they would not have been able to tell one end of a horse from the other. At Wentworth, we had a coffee at a refreshment stop on the 17th fairway and at the table next to us were four yobs with 21 empty beer glasses — at 10.30am. They were getting ready to wander round the course to yell: ‘Get in the hole!’ D. aUsTiN, Camberley, surrey.

THE people who sniffed the barmaid’s apron and started fighting at a race meeting should be barred from all sport events for life.

R. MaRTiN, Halifax, W. Yorks. ONE way to stop fighting at racecourses would be to stop same-sex coachloads. DaviD BRENT, ashford, Kent.

I’VE been going to the races since 1960 and in the past never saw fights. Once alcohol could only be consumed in the bars and you could not drink on the course. Now alcohol can be taken anywhere. Until control is brought back to the bar staff and stewards, the problem will continue.

MiKE JONEs, south Witham, Lincs.