Glasgow bans happy hours and drinks promos

Glasgow's licensing board has banned happy hours and drinks promotions from pubs in the city.

The board, which approved the plans at the end of last month, said it will "outlaw special promotions and discount prices which encourage the excessive consumption of alcohol" in pubs with extended hours.

The council has introduced the new policy following recommendations of the Nicholson Committee, which said any pubs that want extended hours should have to face certain restrictions on their licence.

The new scheme, which will be phased in over the next year during licence renewals, will ban licensees from making price changes during the day and will not allow pubs to offer inducements to customers to consume certain products. Licensees who fail to comply with the conditions could face investigation as to whether they are "fit and proper" to hold a licence.

Gordon Miller, chief executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, said: "We do not think there is any room in the industry for irresponsible promotions but we have a number of concerns about the policy. These conditions ban anything that induces people to consume alcohol. This means you can't promote, however sensibly.

"The ruling that you have all-day pricing could affect pubs that do special offers at quiet times of the day."

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, believes there is a problem for licensees as each local authority is interpreting the Nicholson Committee findings differently.

He said: "We are glad Glasgow is trying to do something about the serious problem of binge-drinking. The board does not want anyone to do any promotions irresponsibly but there is a lack of definition.

"The policy is extremely vague about what we can and can't do. It would have been better if Glasgow had taken on a minimum pricing scheme."

The policy applies to any pubs that open beyond the permitted hours.

A new licensing forum, which will bring together police, trade representatives, health, community representatives, transport and tourist boards to discuss licensing policy and practice has also been launched as part of the scheme.