Sir, – Well done David McWilliams for his insightful analysis of the problems inherent in our licensing regime ("Licensing laws are strangling our night-time economy", Opinion, December 18th). It is clear that the current system is an anachronism which serves both consumers and the economy very poorly. A root-and-branch revision is required, and in particular the abolition of the "surrender principle" which incentivises the closure of pubs to create licences for hotels, supermarkets and petrol stations. – Yours, etc,
JOHN DUFFY,
Dublin 6W.