ALTHOUGH the 21st century is imminent, one notable feature of much of modern-day Britain is still stuck in the Victorian times - our licensing laws.

Elsewhere in the world, people can enjoy a drink whenever they want.

Here, the outdated ritual of closing time still prevails in our pubs, along with widespread illegal disregard of what the law says.

But despite the welcome relaxations brought in by the Tories, which enabled pubs to open throughout the day, the nightly routine of "last orders" is rooted in an old-fashioned outlook towards drinking which is out of tune to present-day attitudes and demands.

For though the current laws date from the 1960s, the basis of them is still a mixture of the moralistic approach of the Victorians and the hours curbs the government introduced during the First World War because it was thought drinking impeded the production of munitions. It is high time they caught up with the times.

And the review announced yesterday by Home Office minister George Howarth ought, as he says, to blow many of the cobwebs away.

But the suggestion that pubs should be given blanket extensions until midnight - with clubs being allowed to open later - seems a better option than the proposal that pubs should have "staggered" hours times in order to prevent trouble among drinkers spilling on to the streets at a common closing time.

For that could only lead to more trouble and nuisance to residents caused by people travelling from pub to pub late at night in order to prolong their drinking.

A common-sense approach is needed with controls to protect residents from late-night disturbance.

Perhaps the most sensible option the government could consider is for individual publicans to be given the freedom to open or close their premises as they see fit - thus pleasing their customers by reacting to the real level of demand.

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