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Rightly or wrongly, the drinks industry is being squeezed and, in most areas of life, drinking is becoming less and less acceptable.

You don’t have to go back as far as the Fifties Mad Men era to find a time when a lunchtime pint or glass of wine was thought to be a good idea rather than a sign of incipient alcoholism.

In my early days in journalism, at the start of the Nineties, the lunchtime trip to the pub was sometimes one of the best sources for a story.

At other times, it led to hare-brained feature ideas whose daftness was only fully revealed with the crushing return of complete sobriety.

These days, I’m on the fence. A lunchtime pint is usually out of the question as it means that my work rate will slow to nearly zero in the afternoon.

On the other hand, I would hate to the UK take up the puritanical spirit favoured by some parts of the States.

About ten years ago, I was on a press trip in Los Angeles. A bunch of Brit journalists had lunch with a group of American business people. I ordered a bottle of beer to go with lunch and, afterwards, was rather surprised to be handed an AA card by a concerned American.

Because of that particular episode, I was delighted to hear of the boozy lunch menu which has just been launched by the Adamo in Stirling.

It comprises a selection of cocktails divided into starters, main courses and desserts.

Among the starter choices are a  Smoked Salmon Martini with pieces of salmon on the side to nibble. One of the mains is a Beef and Horseradish cocktail made with potato vodka while the Cranachan Martini should see you right for dessert.

They also offer a vegetarian option: the Mixed Nut ‘Oaf’ made with Frangelico, Amaretto, Drambuie and citrus.

The Adamo’s reps have sent me a lovely email which asks ‘next time you fancy a drink with lunch, why not have the drink as your lunch!’

I’m not sure the medical profession would condone that particular sentiment but I am sorely tempted.