Look at some of the terminology in this article, and tell me they weren’t opportunities for something wonderful that were wasted.

all-party Parliamentary beer group

Should have been a social group, instead is a group of people who like to parrot what pub owners say

“alcohol summit”

Should have been a piss-up, ended up being a meeting held by a puritanical bar steward about how to stop/reduce piss-ups.

Those pesky politicians, they never seem to see people making choices without trying to curb said choices. Especially when it conflicts with those lovely vested interests… And sadly, it seems that the pub trade is steadily becoming a significantly annoying vested interest. Especially over here, with the pesky short licensing laws…