Licensing laws are set for a shake-up

Cathy Jamieson stressed that while licensing hours were up for review, there was "neither the desire nor the evidence to support" round-the-clock drinking.

MSPs were debating the Nicholson Report which recommends the abolition of fixed licensing hours but also calls for firm action against binge drinking.

Ms Jamieson said speculation that the report would open the door to 24-hour drinking was "so much froth" and a "media myth".

She said: "Sheriff Principal Nicholson and his committee have not opened Scotland up to 24-hour drinking.

"The recommendations suggest a move from the present piecemeal system of 'fixed' opening hours to a tailored 'premises by premises' approach founded on his group's core principles."

She expressed hope that Wednesday's debate would be used to dispel that myth.

The 90 recommendations from Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson are undergoing public consultation until Christmas and must the pass through the Scottish Parliament before becoming law.

Licensing Hours I don't think pubs should be open for 24-hours but licensees should be able to choose when they open Brian Monteith Tory MSP

The Nicholson Committee was commissioned by the Scottish Executive and first met in August 2001.

It found there should be an entirely new Licensing Act for Scotland to replace the current legislation enacted in 1976.

It also called for the abolition of the present outdated system of licences and opening hours to be replaced by a tailored "premises-by-premises" approach.

The report made it clear that local licensing boards would make the final decision on who could sell alcohol and on opening hours.

The boards would take into account issues such as public nuisance, underage sales and binge drinking.

The minister said she wanted to see an end to "irresponsible" alcohol promotions aimed at encouraging people to drink heavily for a short space of time.

Binge drinking, Ms Jamieson said, was "the most damaging aspect of Scotland's approach to alcohol".

The minister said that while some promotions would be allowed, those that encourage binge drinking would not.

Drinking sensibly

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said holding a licence brought with it a social responsibility.

Mr Law said licensees should be able to deal with alcohol-related problems on their premises.

He said: "We welcome the recommendation that licensing board members should also be trained so they understand the consequences of their decisions.

"The consequences of their decisions not only have an impact on their businesses but also the wider community."

The report has been broadly backed

Drinks promotions should be banned in order to address irresponsible behaviour, Mr Law added.

Brian Monteith MSP, Tory local government spokesman, said binge drinking was one of a number of pressure points needing to be addressed.

He said: "We need to liberalise so we have a more relaxed drinking culture where people actually drink more sensibly and slowly.

"I don't think pubs should be open for 24-hours but licensees should be able to choose when they open."

But he said that while the Nicholson report sought to liberalise drinking hours by devolving power to councils, he feared it might result in little practical change as licensing boards were likely to allow the same hours they currently permitted for regular extensions.

SNP justice spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the Nicholson reforms as long overdue, and likely to lead to an improvement in the quality of life for communities across Scotland.

'Achilles heel'

And she urged the executive to act swiftly at the end of the consultation exercise later this year.

"Many of the proposals are basic common sense and most of them are non-contentious," said Ms Sturgeon.

Liberal Democrat Donald Gorrie said: "Personally, I think this parliament should enact the whole of the report. I think there are a lot of very good issues in it."

But he went on to argue of a possible "Achilles heel" to the reforms.