Though I wouldn't say it's by any means how it should be, the legal situation is hardly how it's represented by the cynics among us (and I don't think people do us too many favours by over-egging the pudding in this respect).

All our local pubs are licensed for music & dancing and the village pubs are licensed for the mummers play (though God help us if we try it outside the village but I expect the LA would turn a blind eye as they did before the new licensing laws).

The pubs also all pay a PRS license anyway.

As for drunks, we don't have stages - ours are mainly participatory things - and the drunks are generally respectful. They might give you a bit of a heckle, but they too are part of the community.

:-)