“What time is it acceptable to have the first drink of the day?”

Our “What’s on your mantelpiece?” question “What time is it acceptable to have the first drink of the day?” has attracted a large mailbag of correspondence. What’s your view? Please submit letters to [email protected]. All letters must be accompanied by contact details and your name and postal address.

SIR – I drink from the moment I wake. Usually Earl Grey made with ginger-infused water. One then can have a Buck’s Fizz with brekkers.

As to a ‘real drink’ I subscribe to the ‘When the Sun’s over the yard arm’ custom.

Since I rarely drink alone and travel internationally with fortunate frequency, the timing is guided by the time zone of my companion. Hence I can be found slurping a Hendricks martini whilst others munch their Rice Crispies.

Glenmore Stratton-Trenear-Harvey

Pas de Calais, France

SIR – My father taught me: “It must be 6pm somewhere in the world” in relation to the time that it was acceptable to have a drink. It works wherever and whenever.

Godeke von Wedel

Rheinberg, Germany

SIR – I don’t drink alcohol. For me, it’s acceptable to have a glass of water at any hour of the day.

Vicky Lloyd

Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset

SIR – 1pm onwards is generally a good time to have a drink.

Drinking generally anytime before midday shows a slight dependency issue. However, if you’re a churchgoer and have your fix of holy sherry post mass around 11am on a Sunday, or you want to enjoy a late morning G&T before weekend lunch, I think that’s fine.

I dated a guy briefly once who drank beer at 10am, after a night out. Whilst it wasn’t my prime reason for parting ways, it certainly didn’t make him very desirable – boozy breath in the morning is pretty disgusting and didn’t really go down well in my books.

Catherine Chapman

London, NW1

SIR – As soon as theme tune BBC 6 o’clock news plays I reach for the corkscrew. I see it as an Audio-Pavlovian watershed.

Melinda Hughes

London, SW3

SIR – It is acceptable whenever you feel like it on your birthday. With best friends it is OK in the afternoon on other occasions, but otherwise after 6pm is when drinking should commence.

Aliona Adrianova

London, E14

SIR – Any day, anytime, anywhere.

Adam Caldwell

London, W14

SIR – An acceptable time is too strict since having a drink applies to a phase.

Kathleen de Cheyne

West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

SIR – They say: “No wine before nine” but they don’t specify am or pm. Another option is to get on a plane to a different time zone and get going.

Ed Hood

Tonbridge, Kent