Applications for the new licences are now going into local authorities by the "barrel load", with growing numbers of pubs being granted extended hours.
With just two weeks to go before the August 6 deadline for converting existing licences, local authority co-ordinating body LACORS said councils were finally being "flooded" with applications.
According to official figures from the Department for Culture Media & Sport, 42 per cent of the expected applications had been submitted last week.
The British Beer & Pub Association claimed its pub company members were now "70 per cent of the way there" - but fears remain that thousands of freetraders will miss the deadline.
"Our expectation is that BBPA members will manage to reach the target by August 6," claimed BBPA communications director Mark Hastings. "The rate has been increasing exponentially over the last few weeks. They are now going in the by the barrel load.
"I think as far as pubs are concerned the process is on track, but for hotels, restaurants and shops and all the little businesses it's an entirely different story. I think we are out of the trees, but not out of the woods."
Mr Hastings claimed the BBPA's brewing members had also been working hard to encourage freetraders to apply for their licences, through messages on invoices and via telephone calls.
But he added that it was clear that the government had "dropped a clanger" by not communicating consistently enough the changes to the licensing laws from the day the Licensing Act was passed.
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, admitted that some freetraders would miss the deadline.
"People have left it a little late," he said. "My advice to them would be to get their personal licence and then their premises licence and then worry about their conversion later."
LACORS said councils were working hard to ensure the new licensing regime was on track - and responded to claims on thePublican.com last week that councils were continuing to place unfair demands on pubs under the new Licensing Act.
The local authority co-ordinating body said it was disappointed the pub industry was so quick to criticise officers who are working all hours to try to cope with a flood of applications.
Geoffrey Theobald, chairman of LACORS, added: "Local authorities have limited discretion when it comes to implementing the Act and are bound by very tight guidelines. This means local authorities are unable to amend application forms, even if they may have minor errors.
"Matters have been made worse as a result of late publication of the guidance and also because the vast majority of applications are expected to be received in the final few weeks running up to August 6.
"Licensees must recognise that once they have completed the forms, their new licence is valid forever and in actual fact, in the long term, businesses are being offered significant deregulation."