Glasgow considers happy hour ban

Glasgow Council is the latest council to consider introducing a ban on price promotions and happy hours for licensees in the city.

Many local councils have been introducing these types of policies in an attempt to stop the promotional sale of alcohol which they believe can lead to binge-drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Other local authorities such as Perth and Kinross Council have been running similar schemes to curb binge drinking but they have been opposed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) which says they are anti-competitive. Licensing law firm Joelson Wilson has also argued that they are unlawful.

The British Beer and Pub Association supports the use of happy hours if they are done so sensibly. Spokesman Mark Hastings said: "I would hope and expect that Glasgow has checked its proposed scheme with the OFT to make sure it does not fall foul of competition law."

Paul Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "We are all for it and agree that they have to take steps against cut-price drinks promotions. But they have perpetrated the problems as they continue to grant new licences and want a 24-hour system."

The government is shortly to introduce the Enterprise Act, which will replace the Competition Act and will include criminal sanctions against directors of companies who are caught breaching competition policy. The OFT warned last month that licensees could be fined tens of thousands of pounds if they sign up to controversial minimum pricing schemes. It said licensees are liable to pay a fine of up to 10 per cent of their total turnover, which could easily run into thousands.

Alcohol-related illness​

An area of Glasgow has the world's highest incidence of a rare alcohol-related illness.

According to research from BBC Scotland, 400 Scots a year are diagnosed with Korsakov's syndrome, an irreversible condition which causes short-term memory loss.

The illness hits when previously heavy drinkers give up suddenly. A course of vitamins during the "detox" period can prevent it occurring.

The condition is more common in the east end of Glasgow than anywhere else in the world.

The Scottish Executive has appointed a group of health experts to assess the extent of the problem, and hopes to prevent more cases of the disease by increasing awareness.