New England's declining pubs and clubs

I know that change is inevitable, but I don't have to like it.

First pubs and then pubs and clubs were central to the social fabric of New England communities, especially the smaller one.

Many New England communities lost pubs in the past because the structure of licensing laws made it profitable to transfer licenses to bigger communities. Now we are losing clubs partly because of social change, more because of increased Government regulations and taxes.

I understand the reasons for Government action. The practical problem, however, is that the clubs provided key elements in our social fabric such as sporting facilities. The Sydney government gets more money, we lose facilities.