Gareth - I don't think that there there should be no licenses at all, but why not license the the things that really have been shown to raise problems of public nuisance or safety ?

There are several pubs near to me, which have loud recorded music every weekend, and which attract way over 200 youngsters each. In spite of (or because of) having bouncers on the doors, there are usually police cars outside by the end of most evenings. During the recent world cup, I saw many cases of vandalism and nuisance as supporters rolled out of pubs with large screen TV. Yet the government in their wisdom has decided that this sort of event does not require an entertainments license.

How many folk clubs or sessions do you know that need bouncers ? - mind you, the sight of a Black Maria being filled with folkies might become common, if the new Licensing Act is enforced vigorously. If the small events clause had been retained intact (even with the numbers reduced to 150 or 100) most folk clubs and sessions would have been exempt. Would this have posed any serious problems for public safety or nuisance ?