Ministers 'set to ban happy hour'

12 April 2012

Ministers are set to ban happy hours in pubs and clubs as part of a crack down on binge-drinking, it has been claimed.

A new Code of Conduct will outlaw promotions that encourage drinking at speed and in large quantities, it was reported.

The Daily Telegraph said the measures, designed to reduce drink-fuelled violence and injuries, would be announced by the Government a week on Monday.

It follows long-term concern about the costs of alcohol misuse, estimated to run to up to £25 billion a year.

Critics of liberalised licensing laws claim the move three years ago to 24-hour pub opening has exacerbated the problem.

A Department for Health spokeswoman said research on the issue had been commissioned but was unable to comment on any planned announcements.

The Telegraph reported that the code of conduct, binding on pubs and clubs, would ban "time-limited" cut-price drink offers, or happy hours.

Other areas to be curbed include offers of free drinks for women, while alcoholic containers could feature similar health warnings to those on cigarette packets.

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