SIR – At the beginning of January each year I tend to have a week or two without any beer to clear the cobwebs out, so to speak.

This year I am also making a heroic effort to pack the dreadful smoking in once and for all.

This morning I called in the pub to see the lads and partook of a couple of pints of still orange while the lads were sliding pints of Caffrey’s Smooth down their necks.

This situation is not idyllic but it is only for a week or so and then I can look forward to enjoying a pint or two with the brothers and the mates.

It came to my notice that Nigel Farage, the leader of the UKIP party, has pledged to go the whole of January without beer.

Ho well!

Being a UKIP supporter I have now made a pact to lay off the beer for the whole of January.

If Mr Farage should let the side down before the month is out I may consider putting my X at the side of another party’s candidate come next May’s General Election.

Terry Tordoff, Calderstone Avenue, Buttershaw