Does Santa Need a Makeover?

There is a Press Association news item on the Internet today that reports on research done by Dr Nathan Grills and illustrator Brendan Halyday of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. They reckon the image of Father Christmas - an obese mince pie eating boozer - is setting the wrong example to young people and enlarging the waistlines of all those fathers who have to eat the leftover mince pies left out by hopeful children. They want to slim him down and sober him up and prevent him from lending his image to those who advertise products that could be bad for us. But what about getting rid of the Coca-Cola red outfit and giving him back his real name? It seems that they are not prepared to go that far nor are they willing to suggest giving up the winter spending spree in favour of a joyful celebration of the Saviour's birth.