I think the fact that Dr Howells thought it safe to make a joke at the expense of one type of the culture he is responsible for, in response to a good question, rather than actually making any serious attempt to do anything about the law he considers as "silly", speaks volumes.

It has been the Government's intention to reform licensing for over a year but they have just sat on it. Knowing that years will pass before the reform can make any difference and knowing the real problems currently created, Dr Howell's Dept have not made any positive steps to instruct the local authorities to use their common sense until the reforms can come into force.

When our Government actually does something to adresses the problem, I will be the very first to sing their praises, until then I will support all attempts to expose the weaknesses in their current position of proudly and smugly doing nothing.

We will have to ensure that the legislation is not hijacked but that can't happen until they actually have some legislation to hijack. Why is reform so slow in comming?