Late-night pub openings aren’t in the right spirit

‘Longer pub opening must mean that the chancellor has decided that the solution to economic difficulties is to drown our sorrows in drink.’ Photograph: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The government’s plan to extend licensing hours seems to be a rather desperate measure to encourage growth (Pubs to stay open until early hours in push for UK growth, 8 October). Will there be enough customers for pubs to afford the additional staffing and running costs of staying open later?

Many pubs are already closing early on some evenings and perhaps not opening on others. If the government really wants to give licensed premises a boost, it should find a way of reducing the price of the drinks they sell, but this would be unpalatable when it’s looking for ways to raise taxes.