Ministers want the proposals to be extended to off-sales

The Licensing (Scotland) Bill already contains proposals to ban certain offers in pubs and clubs.

Deputy Finance Minister Tavish Scott said the bill would be amended at the next stage of the parliamentary process to extend controls to off-sales.

The Scottish Executive also plans to lengthen the time that drink promotions must stay in place.

The announcements were made during a debate on the general principles of the bill, which were approved unanimously by MSPs on Wednesday.

Retail sector

The legislation would ban pub happy hours and promotions that encourage things like "two-for-one" deals.

Last week Holyrood's local government committee said the curbs should also cover the retail sector.

Mr Scott said there was a "general consensus" behind extending controls to off-sales.

This bill is not about liberalisation, nor deregulation, nor will it allow 24-hour drinking Tavish Scott Deputy Finance Minister

"We therefore propose to amend the bill at stage two to deliver a ban on certain promotions within off-sales premises," he said.

"We wish to ensure that this extension covers promotions which: relate specifically to an alcoholic drink targeted at people under the age of 18; is based on the strength of any alcohol; reward or encourage, or seek to reward or encourage, drinking alcohol quickly; and offer alcohol as a reward or prize, unless the alcohol is in a sealed container and consumed off the premises."

Efforts in the original bill to clamp down on happy hours required any promotion to remain in place for 48 hours.

Mr Scott said the executive would move to extend that to 72 hours - and said it would also apply to off-sales.

Individuals must look to themselves and Scotland as a society must look at itself collectively to alter and change behaviour Bruce Crawford SNP MSP

The minister said the bill aimed to "break the link" between excessive drinking and crime, while allowing the hospitality industry to expand.

"Government cannot change Scotland's hard-drinking culture. People can," he said.

"But government can recognise what must be done. Licensing law reform is one part of that equation.

"This bill is not about liberalisation, nor deregulation, nor will it allow 24-hour drinking. There is no evidence that such an approach would work.

"These liquor licensing reforms go hand in hand with sustained, long-term action on education about alcohol and health promotion."

Change behaviour

Scottish National Party MSP Bruce Crawford welcomed the announcement, saying that the executive had until now failed to tackle irresponsible promotions in the off-licence sector.

"Individuals must look to themselves and Scotland as a society must look at itself collectively to alter and change behaviour," he said.