REGARDING your Opinion (LET, August 27) on the freedom of our pub hours, as the majority of pubs are situated in residential areas, their freedom to open all hours would mean no freedom for the local residents.

People would be coming and going, talking, laughing, calling out to each other and car doors would be slamming into the wee small hours.

People do have to get up for work and are entitled to their rest.

And as for the drinkers, are they going to go to work from the pub somewhat inebriated? Will their employers tolerate that?

If they have no job, then who is paying for the booze - those who need their sleep perhaps?

If, as you say, people would be drinking no more than at present, then why are the publicans wanting to incur greater overheads for the same profit?

I think the licensing laws should close the pubs earlier and, as for the time and expense of the police and magistrates being spared, are not we all paying for them to do just that - uphold the rule of law? Without rules, there is no freedom.

TERI COLLIGHAM, Branch Road, Mellor Brook, Blackburn.

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