THERE is no good reason for pubs, hotels and community centres not to provide their customers with a pint or a tot while they watch World Cup matches in the bar.

And the fact that some of those games will kick off before most people would normally have had breakfast is irrelevant.

However that is unlikely to prevent some people complaining about the licensing extensions given to 15 Swindon establishments which applied for permission to serve alcohol to people who will want to watch early morning matches with their friends in a bar. We hope those who object will find their concerns are absolutely unjustified.

Being able to sip a glass or two round a large TV screen while a football match is being played does not mean everyone in the bar is going to turn up for work drunk, as well as late, when the game is over. We believe licensees have a duty to ensure that drinkers do not get sozzled while games are in progress or behave riotously when the results are known.

The fact that they must provide substantial refreshments which in most cases is likely to mean a good hefty English breakfast will help.

These early hours extensions are following a pattern which has long prevailed on the Continent. When did you last see a breakfast time riot outside a French bar? Why should Swindon during the run of the World Cup be any different?