It is bad enough that serving alcohol and providing live music are treated in this Act and its local enforcement, as if they are presenting the same risks to the licensing objectives but to impose a curfew on live music (with all of its benefits) in order to allow the serving of alcohol (with all of its problems) to continue - is surreal scapegoating of live music as an easy target.

Licensing officers are using this tactic, where live music becomes a sacrifice, in order placate objectors. With Councils now responsible for all licensing - this is sadly quite a common practice.

If the homeward bound and alcohol-fuelled patrons create the problem outside - why not place the curfew on both licensable activities equally? There is nothing preventing a licensee from finishing any live music, food or any other activity when they think best but there is no need to make such curfews a licensing condition.