MINISTERS are to press ahead with a ban on happy hours despite a government report showing overwhelming public opposition.

The survey, obtained by The Sunday Times, reveals that 80% of Scots are opposed to the curb on cut-price drink promotions.

In a further setback for ministers, more than half of Scots questioned said the planned extension to pub licensing hours — designed to foster a more relaxed continental approach to alcohol — will encourage them to drink more.

The findings will cause embarrassment to Jack McConnell, the first minister, who has made tackling Scotland’s binge drinking culture one of his top priorities. Happy hours and two-for-one drink promotions are to be banned under legislation which is expected to become law next year.

Ministers acted after Scotland’s chief constables warned that Scots could not hold their drink and that binge drinking was fuelling higher levels of violence, accidents, injuries and sexual attacks. Police have also warned that relaxing opening hours could make the situation worse.

The strength of opposition to the first reform of Scotland’s licensing laws in 30 years has emerged in the wake of figures showing that the number of young women admitted to hospital last year for drink-related conditions such as liver damage has tripled since 1997.

According to hospital statistics, 173 female Scots aged 24 or under were diagnosed as harming themselves directly through their alcohol use last year compared with 78 in 1997. Among men, the figure had risen from 201 to 406 over the same period. Meanwhile, the number of alcohol-related deaths has risen from fewer than 1 in 100 in 1980 to 1 in 30.

According to the government survey, only a fifth of the 1,600 adults surveyed said they supported a ban on happy hours. Most said it should be left to publicans to decide, while 37% said they should be restricted. Only a third of Scots said they expected more liberal drinking hours to limit their alcohol consumption.

Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Tory enterprise spokesman, said the executive was wrong to use “a blunt instrument” to tackle a social problem which penalised well-behaved drinkers and restricted personal rights and freedoms.

“The great majority who enjoy happy hours do so responsibly. There is only a small minority who spoil it for everyone else and they can always be asked to leave,” he said..

“In economic terms, too, it is a fairly draconian approach to say to the licensed trade that it cannot behave like any other aspect of commercial activity by discounting its goods.”

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