[Acrylic-bob]

"If 24-hour licensing is so awful then the 'coalition' (that word makes me laugh every time I hear it) now have the power to reverse it, don't they?"

As far as I am aware the Home Secretary mentioned at the party conference that a repeal was on the cards.

"The breweries will ultimately be responsible for the demise of pubs and anyone who has ventured into one recently will be able to see that. I assume you haven't, Bob. "

You would be assuming too much. Of course the breweries must shoulder a great deal of the responsibility for the current pricing structure, but not all of it by any means. The breweries did not set the punitively high tax rates or the equally punitive business rates. the breweries did not insist on the implementation of Health and Safety legislation, nor did they implore government and local government to quadruple the beurocracy surrounding the granting of a licence. Supermarkets and franchised off licences and newsagencies are able to negotiate with the breweries for bulk sales at discount prices. these prices are unavailable to the average landlord because the volume of sales is not there anymore.

Unless and until the playing field is level pubs and clubs will always loose out to the supermarkets' philosophy of 'pile it high and sell it cheap' (or at cost ).

To my mind the use by the supermarkets of alcohol as a loss leader is morally reprehensible and has disastrous social consequences. And this is a situation entirely brought about by the introduction of the twenty four hour licence.

So, yes, Bingo! It is Labour's fault