Trade leaders have questioned a raft of tough new government measures to tackle underage sales and alcohol-related problems, announced off the back of the government Licensing Act review.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham told MPs last week that all on-trade and off-trade premises will face a 'two strikes and you're out' rule, if found selling alcohol to under-18s during a three-month period.
A new "yellow card and red card" alert system will also be used against "problem" premises, with a yellow card signifying a warning while red will lead to a licence being revoked.
However, Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer & Pub Association, criticised the government's failure to focus on individuals' responsibility over alcohol.
"It's all very well to talk about tough new measures, but the trade has been faced with enforcement measures for two years. What is totally absent is anything aimed at individuals," he said.
"It misses the point about where under-18s get their alcohol from. Undoubtedly some are buying from shops, but the vast majority is being given to them by their parents or other adults."
The measures came after the government's review showed an overall drop in crime, but an increase in alcohol-related violence between 3am and 6am.
Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "There seems to be an element of posturing here which does not reflect reality.
"There are issues on the high street, you can't dispute that, but it's not just the pubs and supermarkets that should be held responsible it's down to parents and the control they have."
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, called for a "degree of flexibility" on underage sales.
"For a premises that has a lot of staff it can be difficult, it shouldn't happen, but it does," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the changes would be consulted on in "due course".