As predicted, the Queen's Speech last week left out any mention of proposed changes in the law to allow longer opening hours in pubs and bars.
However, Tony Blair later hinted that there was still a chance the legislation could come before Parliament soon, rather than be put back another 18 months or more.
The Prime Minister told MPs: "It's always the case that there are many more Bills that are brought forward than are listed in the Queen's Speech.
"Indeed, I understand that in the 1997 Queen's Speech there were some 30 more Bills that were added eventually.
"So many of those that people have mentioned in respect of drinking laws or tobacco, for example, those are things that, if we have the time, and I hope very much that we will do so, we can legislate for."
Later a spokesman for Blair said manifesto commitments such as licensing reform could be brought in at any time during the parliament.
During the election campaign, the Labour Party sent pager messages to young voters telling them to support the party for an end to licensing law restrictions.
The sacked minister in charge of licensing hours, Mike O'Brien, accused the Prime Minister of breaking a promise to pub-goers by dropping the Bill.
The absence of any mention of licensing reform brought an accusation from the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association that the government had committed "the fastest U-turn on record."
The association also warned a failure to relax restrictions threatens new investment in the industry.
Rob Hayward, chief executive of the BLRA, said: "This is hugely disappointing for the whole of Britain's leisure and tourism sector, and threatens plans for investment and the creation of new jobs. Now it seems to have been forgotten altogether. Modernising is on hold and the 21st century will have to wait for Britain to catch up."
However, Tony Blair later hinted that there was still a chance the legislation could come before Parliament soon, rather than be put back another 18 months or more.
The Prime Minister told MPs: "It's always the case that there are many more Bills that are brought forward than are listed in the Queen's Speech.
"Indeed, I understand that in the 1997 Queen's Speech there were some 30 more Bills that were added eventually.
"So many of those that people have mentioned in respect of drinking laws or tobacco, for example, those are things that, if we have the time, and I hope very much that we will do so, we can legislate for."
Later a spokesman for Blair said manifesto commitments such as licensing reform could be brought in at any time during the parliament.
During the election campaign, the Labour Party sent pager messages to young voters telling them to support the party for an end to licensing law restrictions.
The sacked minister in charge of licensing hours, Mike O'Brien, accused the Prime Minister of breaking a promise to pub-goers by dropping the Bill.
The absence of any mention of licensing reform brought an accusation from the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association that the government had committed "the fastest U-turn on record."
The association also warned a failure to relax restrictions threatens new investment in the industry.
Rob Hayward, chief executive of the BLRA, said: "This is hugely disappointing for the whole of Britain's leisure and tourism sector, and threatens plans for investment and the creation of new jobs. Now it seems to have been forgotten altogether. Modernising is on hold and the 21st century will have to wait for Britain to catch up."
