What price liquor licensing reform within the next two years? It's not a bet many will want to take following the events of the last week.
Cynical, untrustworthy and arrogant were a few of the kinder descriptions of the Government coming from the hospitality and leisure industry after the omission of the promised licensing reform bill from the Queen's Speech. This despite New Labour using the carrot of later pub opening hours as an electoral campaign come-on.
To be fair, the Government, including Prime Minister Blair himself, has since been at pains to stress that just because a reform measure isn't included in the Queen's Speech doesn't necessarily mean it won't be acted on.
But how can licensing reform swiftly make it back onto the legislative waiting list?
The anger of the bulk of the industry has had some effect, however. Kim Howells, the new minister at the Department of Culture responsible for licensing, was hurriedly contacting all the major trade bodies at the end of last week trying to set up meetings - unusual indeed for the Government to be chasing the industry.
The question is what is the industry going to do now? What is the new strategy?
A change of course is needed. No more cosying up to ministers. No more trusting politicians. There is no "contract" between the Government and the industry.
The obvious change is that the Home Office is no longer involved. That should be a plus. Reform does not have to be seen as a judicial issue, but can be played as a pro-business, pro-tourism initiative.
There is also no requirement to aim solely for a change in primary legislation. The industry could push for a quick introduction of flexible operating hours using the new anti-Red Tape regulatory reform procedures.
Public safeguards against the downsides of late drinking are already in place, in the new police powers to control unruly premises that the Government passed last session, including the closure of pubs.
Such a course could also be used to by-pass all the nasty stuff in the reform Bill proposed before the Election, such as the need for operational plans or statements.
The set-back of the Queen's Speech should be a wake-up call to industry leaders not to take anything for granted and to be more focussed and determined about the what the industry actually wants û and doesn't want.
The truth that has been hinted at for some time now is that the UK hospitality and leisure industry isn't seen by Government as a serious, grown-up industryà.yet.
Cynical, untrustworthy and arrogant were a few of the kinder descriptions of the Government coming from the hospitality and leisure industry after the omission of the promised licensing reform bill from the Queen's Speech. This despite New Labour using the carrot of later pub opening hours as an electoral campaign come-on.
To be fair, the Government, including Prime Minister Blair himself, has since been at pains to stress that just because a reform measure isn't included in the Queen's Speech doesn't necessarily mean it won't be acted on.
But how can licensing reform swiftly make it back onto the legislative waiting list?
The anger of the bulk of the industry has had some effect, however. Kim Howells, the new minister at the Department of Culture responsible for licensing, was hurriedly contacting all the major trade bodies at the end of last week trying to set up meetings - unusual indeed for the Government to be chasing the industry.
The question is what is the industry going to do now? What is the new strategy?
A change of course is needed. No more cosying up to ministers. No more trusting politicians. There is no "contract" between the Government and the industry.
The obvious change is that the Home Office is no longer involved. That should be a plus. Reform does not have to be seen as a judicial issue, but can be played as a pro-business, pro-tourism initiative.
There is also no requirement to aim solely for a change in primary legislation. The industry could push for a quick introduction of flexible operating hours using the new anti-Red Tape regulatory reform procedures.
Public safeguards against the downsides of late drinking are already in place, in the new police powers to control unruly premises that the Government passed last session, including the closure of pubs.
Such a course could also be used to by-pass all the nasty stuff in the reform Bill proposed before the Election, such as the need for operational plans or statements.
The set-back of the Queen's Speech should be a wake-up call to industry leaders not to take anything for granted and to be more focussed and determined about the what the industry actually wants û and doesn't want.
The truth that has been hinted at for some time now is that the UK hospitality and leisure industry isn't seen by Government as a serious, grown-up industryà.yet.
