Time for pubs to strike' over licensing shambles

Am I living on a different planet to everybody else in the licensed trade? The Licensing Act 2003 is a disaster for the pub trade and everybody who works in it. Never has an industry had so much garbage laid at its door by Government.

This Labour Government's record on getting new laws enacted is appalling, and those morons in the Department for Culture, Media & Sport are just playing with people's lives.

I blame Blair for this. He's so busy trying to be leader of the world that he takes no interest in what his lackeys are up to. The standards of these people are appalling.

We were simply told lies about the new reforms and how it was going to be so much easier and cheaper for licensees to run pubs with less regulations.

The fact is we have been sold down the river by this shower, so I would like to pose a question. Why can we not all get together and refuse to apply for these licences? What would be the effect if nobody applied ­ a form of strike if you like?

Some people might say there would be no pubs open come November. I don't think so. The Government would have to do something about it. Just think of the anger of the people if all the pubs were shut. So come on, get off your backsides and protest. It's not too late.

Well that's off my chest. I can at least dream.

Name and address supplied

It's good to see councils tangled up in red tape

I note with interest the article "99% of licence applications still to be submitted" (Morning Advertiser, 7 April, front page).

Jim Hunter, licensing officer for Taunton, predicts that "his licensing authority could be forced to work through their holidays and indeed weekends to deal with the huge backlog of licensing applications".

Well thank the Lord that there is some justice in the world. What do you think we (in this industry) have been doing to beat the bureaucratic battle for the last six months in preparation for these licence applications?

Yours truly in anticipation of a nice long holiday.

Mike Davies

Shepherd Neame

17 Court Street

Faversham

Kent

ME13 7AX

Whatever happened to 1960s smoking rooms?

As a new reader of your excellent publications the Morning Advertiser and PubChef I must say I'm very impressed with them both.

I have been eating and drinking in pubs for many years and have seen the demand increase from crisps to sandwiches to snacks to three- course meals.

I have noticed within the last year or so, pubs that used to offer food are now going back to drinking only, blaming lack of demand ­ I know of six or seven in the Essex, Hertfordshire, Cam-bridgeshire and Suffolk area. Also, when the non-smoking rule for pubs serving food comes in, a lot of pubs will stop doing food as many regular customers smoke but do not eat in the pub, I am told.

I don't smoke and fully support the ban on smoking in areas where food is served.

Whatever happened to the smoking rooms in pubs of years ago? In the 1960s smoking was only allowed in the public bars where there was a no smoking room.

On another matter, I would not expect to have to dress up to go to have a pub meal, but I think it will be a sorry day when people do not dress smartly in an exclusive and smart restaurant. I feel if someone is smartly dressed they act and work better and get noticed more. I know the difference in the treatment I get in pubs when I wear a suit and I don't. Also thank you very much for the feature on the Cabinet at Reed, Hertfordshire, (PubChef, March). It is a very good gastro pub.

Ron Deighton

117 Bedford Road

Walthamstow

London

E17 4DU

Punish the parents who allow under-age drinking

We held a karaoke competition at our pub and we were asked if a 17-year-old girl could sing. I allowed this and informed her parents that she could not drink alcohol. "No problem", came the reply from the mother, who went on to inform me that she and her daughter had gone out the previous evening and had been drinking double vodkas all night at about £15 a round.

What chance do we have when parents cannot see anything wrong with under-age drinking?

Licensees can get fined for serving under-age drinkers, knowingly or not, so why can't the police be taken to task for not taking action against offenders and their parents?

EB Cant

The Colliers

(Morning Advertiser South Wales Regional Village Pub of the Year 2004)

Skewen

Neath

West Glamorgan

South Wales

Why not get your brands on our charity walkers?

One of the biggest charity fundraising events of the year is taking place between April and September ­ the Kellogg's Corn Flakes Great Walk 2005 ­ and Licensed Trade Charity chief executive Colin Wheeler, along with 12 colleagues, is planning to walk the 10km Hyde Park route on Sunday 18 September to raise funds for the LTC.

We are looking for sponsorship ­ and not only financial. If any company or brand would like our walkers to advertise their wares, we will be only too pleased to oblige­ for a price.

Funds raised will go directly to the hundreds of people the charity helps in the industry each year. If any readers are able to help us with T-shirts or baseball caps, we'll be pleased to wear them during the walk. All branded supporters will also have the opportunity to display their logos on our website www.licensedtradecharity.org.uk, through trade advertising and any direct mailing we carry out.

Kelly Gibson

Events Fundraiser

Licensed Trade Charity

Heatherley

London Road

Ascot

Berkshire