Matter of respect

I refer to Bob Taylor and James Watson’s letters on Friday, 26 January regarding the alleged activities at the Presidents Club charity dinner, and agree that the behaviour of all-male and also all-female groups on a “good night out” can become somewhat primal, to say the least, in comparison to mixed groups.

I remember a few years ago, in a Chinese restaurant, seeing a tipsy older man dining with a group put his hand on the Chinese server’s arm as she was taking their order, as if she was somehow his “property”. To her credit, she simply firmly removed his hand and continued to take their order.

More recently in a wine bar, four ladies of a certain age were very much enjoying their evening, and were served on a couple of occasions by a young male member of staff.

Each time, as he replenished their supply of fizz, one of the ladies rested her hand on his upper arm.

In these cases, and particularly the PC charity dinner, the message seems to be that included in the price of their evening’s food, drink and entertainment is the entitlement to paw the staff.

Would these older men and women want their own sons and daughters to be mauled whilst trying to do their jobs?

Male – or female – it’s time to show some respect and keep your hands to yourselves.

KATHRYN SHARP Blinkbonny Road, Edinburgh