What has been lost in the whole debate regarding local pubs and headlines such as "Outcry over 3am Drunks" (The Argus, August 22) is the reality that the Government's licensing reform could end up being a nail in the coffin of hundreds of so-called "residential" pubs around the country.

Some pubs which have been part of these communities for hundreds of years - often in existence before many of the properties around them - are being tarnished with the same Sodom and Gomorrah brush.

The vast majority of local pubs are run by dedicated and responsible people who fully understand the reality of having to look their neighbours in the eye every day and the need to compromise regarding opening times.

Being denied the opportunity to compete fairly with pubs, bars and clubs which may be just be a few hundred yards away, but deemed to be in a "commercial area", may well condemn many small businesses to closure.

The fact they are being singled out as a major cause of many of the social problems regarding alcohol and anti-social behaviour in our city is wrong, alarmist and masks the true realities.

Hopefully when all the hysteria subsides, residents, councillors, licensees and the police can all work together to make this new law work for everyone and, by so doing, safeguard one of our great institutions - the local pub.

-Neil Hayward - Director, People's Pubs, The Robin Hood, Brighton