Graham Howson's letter (August 26) regarding licensing laws and the "impending problems" it will bring was outrageous.

What surprises me more than anything is the amount of people who are concentrating on the negative sides of the new laws, rather than the benefits.

We all acknowledge that alcohol can and does increase problems such as violent crime. However, the benefits of extended licensing hours are being brushed under the carpet to make way for people to criticise the partial abolishment of archaic licensing laws.

What confused me further about Mr Howson's letter was his analogy of British pubs with French cafes.

The two are simply not comparable.

I believe the British pub is something to be proud of. Nowhere else in the world has the same lively atmosphere as a traditional British pub.

If you don't believe me, go to a pub when a large sporting event, such as next year's World Cup, is being shown and tell me it's comparable to sitting down in a quiet cafe with a coffee. Even if you don't follow football, I challenge you to find the atmosphere anything but electric.

As for "drunks spilling out on to the streets at all hours", I'm sure countries with longer licensing hours have this problem as well.

It really is down to the British public to make this work.

I believe the reason people binge drink is because of longer working hours, giving people less time to enjoy themselves in pubs and clubs.

During this increase in working hours, closing time for licensed premises has remained the same.

Hardly fair on the honest worker, is it? There is no shame in going out to have a few drinks with friends, so giving an extra hour is the least the Government can do.

I am friends with a few licensees in Brighton and Hove and they have all applied for just an extra hour during the week, with an extra two hours on Friday and Saturday. They have all expressed their concern as to how it will affect their trade.

Two licensees I know of have applied to have their hours extended, effectively because they had (like all landlords and landladies) to re-apply for their license and it would have seemed foolish not to do so now and to have to re-apply later with extra cost attached.

As such, there are many pubs that have the legal right to open later than 11pm, but many may not choose to do so, unless on a special occasion.

And finally, to point out that it's the "drinks industry" which will profit is being a bit vague.

Perhaps Mr Howson doesn't understand that many pubs in Sussex are still independently owned and run. They battle against larger chains of lower-priced pubs for the chance to make a profit and now have a chance to do so.

-Jim Patience, Brighton