On this day

in 1988, more flexible licensing laws allowed public houses to stay open 12 hours in the day, except on Sunday.

Politicians and the health fascists still don't get it when they compare our drinking to continentals. They claim they want us to have the same relaxed attitude to alcohol and then we won't have so much binge drinking, but don't give us the real solution. Extending drinking hours only extended the time people could stay in the ghetto it didn't change our attitudes.

When I met The Great Wise One in Germany we would often go in to the local town, Celle, for a walk and then stop at the local ice cream shop. I'm not a great ice cream fan but do like a beer, no problem, the ice cream parlour sold beer. When we visited a few years ago with the sprog we went to MacDonald's and I had a beer with my burger.

I could go on and I'm sure everyone who has travelled could relate similar tales, but the point is that continentals are relaxed about who sells beer and when and don't restrict it to ghettos, which is why their children are more relaxed around it.

It is also worth noting that there are many pubs in Germany where children aren't welcome, they are for drinking and escaping kids.