'Taking licensing notices out of papers is wrong kind of reform'

The Government's plan to scrap the requirement for pubs and bars to publish alcohol licensing notices in local newspapers has sparked fresh debate over how much support Britain's locals are really getting.

- By Alex Nelson

Ministers say the change, part of a four-week review, will help pubs "cut red tape" and "thrive". But industry voices warn the proposals risk missing the bigger picture.

Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman of CAMRA, says that while modernising regulations makes sense, this particular change won't solve the fundamental challenges facing the sector.

It comes as our title, along with our sister brands across the country, joins a national campaign to scrap the proposals and protect the public's right to know.

For decades, pubs seeking to apply for new licences or make changes to existing ones have been required to publish notices in their local paper.

It remains one of the few consistent ways for residents to be informed about changes in their area. But the proposal to move the process online could mean fewer people ever see these notices, raising questions over transparency and the public's right to know.