The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said that roughly 32,000 pubs will end "all you can drink" and "girls drink free" deals, as well as other promotions thought to encourage excessive drinking. "Irresponsible promotions damage the reputation of the sector, drive down quality and standards, and have no place in a well-managed licensed business," said BBPA spokesperson Mark Hastings.

The announcement comes amid a major law-enforcement crackdown on binge drinking, which is blamed for tens of millions of dollars in healthcare and other costs and is linked to about half of all violent crimes in Great Britain.

In 2003, the Irish government banned happy-hour promotions, which helped lead to a 3-percent decline in alcohol consumption the following year. U.K. officials have proposed to fine pubs that experience repeated incidences of violence and excessive drinking.

The BPPA represents about two-thirds of all pubs in the U.K.

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