The government is to propose a ban on happy hours in pubs and clubs as part of plans to tackle binge drinking.

Ministers believe that the drinks trade cannot be trusted to abide by voluntary codes.

The Department of Health (DoH) and the Home Office will shortly consult the public on new measures to curb the irresponsible sale of alcohol.

A voluntary code of practice, introduced in 2005 by the drinks trade, is likely to be dismissed as ineffective in a report for the government by the accountants KPMG. A DoH source indicated that ministers now believe a legal ban may be necessary.

A separate study, published today by the charity Alcohol Concern, has found that happy hours remain common. They were on offer in three out of six bars in Nottingham city centre, which has become notorious for binge drinking.

Some pubs have extended their happy hour promotions to last all evening, with one offering customers as much as they want to drink for £15.

Frank Soodeen, head of public affairs at Alcohol Concern, said: “The trade associations have been telling MPs that happy hours are no longer a problem because of their voluntary code of practice but we have carried out research which shows their codes aren’t having any impact.”

Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, added: “Voluntary regulation is just not working and while it was perfectly reasonable as a first step, we have to accept that the situation is so serious that it is time for mandatory regulation.”

Gilmore added: “Bars and clubs continue to use ways of selling alcohol that even their own industry recognises as bad practice. The time has come for the government to step in to effectively regulate an industry whose own efforts to tackle irresponsible alcohol sales have failed.”

The British Medical Association is also seeking a ban on happy hours.

In addition, the government consultation will address the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers.

According to the study by Alcohol Concern, 10%-15% of pubs and clubs sell alcohol to teenagers under 18. Although the drinks industry recommends that staff are disciplined if they sell alcohol to underage drinkers, 43% of pubs have no disciplinary policies.

The study found that 36% of pubs in England have no formal policies to take disciplinary action against staff who serve customers who are drunk.

The alcohol-related death rate in the UK rose from 12.9 deaths per 100,000 of the population in 2005 to 13.4 in 2006.

There were more than 57,000 alcohol-related NHS hospital admissions in 2006-7, a 52% rise since 1995-6. Almost 10% of those admitted were aged under 18.

Times Recommends

• One case exposes grim reality for thousands
• A glass case: Prince who yearns for action
• Elizabeth Gaskell: I won’t see out the year