The minimum age for buying alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences is to be raised to 21 in Scotland as part of a wide-ranging attempt to clamp down on binge drinking.

The Scottish government is also proposing to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and ban buy-one-get-one free supermarket promotions to discourage drinking and cut irresponsible behaviour.

The minimum price, expected to be about 40p per unit of alcohol, would increase the cost of the strongest, most heavily discounted drinks, such as superstrength cider and lager, by up to 400%.

A Scottish government source said: “We simply cannot go on allowing shops to sell superstrength beer and lager for less than the price of water.”

The progress of the policy, which must be passed by the Holyrood parliament, will be watched closely in Westminster.

Labour introduced bans on smoking in enclosed public places and raised the tobacco buying age to 18 after observing their successful introduction in Scotland.

Alistair Darling, the chancellor, raised levies on alcohol in March amid fears that low supermarket prices are fuelling binge drinking, violence and health problems.

Pat McFadden, the British business minister, has now confirmed that the government is considering introducing a minimum price for alcohol in England and Wales.

Currently, supermarket own-brand cider is sold for as little as 11p per unit and Stella Artois lager for 30p per unit.

Imposing a 40p minimum price per unit of alcohol would increase the cost of a two-litre bottle of Tesco own-brand dry cider from 94p to £3.36 and 12 500ml cans of own-brand lager from £6.84 to £9.60.

The pub drinking age will remain unchanged.

Vivian Nathanson, the British Medical Association’s head of ethics, said Westminster should follow Scotland’s lead. “Our concern is not just about those aged 18 to 21 drinking excessively, it is about children as young as 13 who say they have favourite alcopops.”

However, a spokesman for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association described the new measures as “ridiculous”.

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