MPs call for pub 'happy hour' ban

Supermarkets should also be prevented by law from selling alcohol at a loss to encourage people into their stores, they said.

Citing research that showed the real price of alcohol has fallen dramatically, the Home Affairs Select Committee urged ministers to clamp down on irresponsible bars and pubs.

They found the "whole focus" of police resources was in targeting booze-fuelled and football violence, meaning officers were "hitting their targets but missing the point".

Chairman Keith Vaz said: "We cannot have on one hand a world of alcohol promotions for profit that fuels surges of crime and disorder, and on the other the police diverting all their resources to cope with it."

He also called for previously voluntary codes of conduct for the drinks industry to be legally enforceable. Last week a senior officer said police did not need new powers to tackle errant licensees.

Simon O'Brien, who speaks for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) on pubs and clubs, said those selling drink irresponsibly were a "minority". Ministers are reportedly considering a compulsory code for pubs and bars that would outlaw discounts and happy hours.

Publicans have backed the call by MPs to ban "happy hour" drinks promotions but blamed supermarkets for fuelling binge drinking.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said the industry had taken action to end "dodgy promotions" but was hamstrung going further by competition law. Spokesman Mark Hastings said: "In contrast, the supermarkets have done nothing but increase their extreme discounting offers."

The BBPA's own code on how its members should deal with promotions was withdrawn this year after advice that it might break competition law.