April 12, 2002 -- Martin Gough just wanted the right to serve pints of beer to football fans as they watch broadcasts of the World Cup Final live from Japan and South Korea this summer. And thanks to a High Court review of his application, he now has that ability, even at 7:00 in the morning.

Landlord of the White Hart pub in Bristol, Mr. Gough initially applied to local magistrates for the right to serve early morning pints under the "special occasions" provision in British licensing laws. (The eight-hour time difference between the UK and Japan and South Korea means some matches will kick-off at 7:30 a.m.) When his first try was rejected last February on the grounds that televised football was not a "special occasion," he decided to take the matter to the High Court.

His success could open the floodgates to applications from 37,000 pubs nationwide which show live sports, says a BBC report of April 12.

Mr Gough said: "It is what the British public wanted. Our customers want to celebrate the football in the normal way - in the pub with a pint in your hand."

But not everyone was cheering Mr. Gough's victory. Rev. David Deeks, of the Methodist Church, said the move would disrupt family life and lead to people going to work drunk, telling BBC News "Do people want their local pub open with the inevitable disruption this causes?"

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