Bans on happy hours and pub crawls are among a number of restrictions being proposed by the U.K. government with the intent of curbing a culture of excessive drinking, Bloomberg reported Dec. 3.

Binge drinking and resultant crime and public disorder are the primary focus of the legislation being prepared for public review and subsequent presentation to Parliament.

"I don't want to stop the vast majority of people who enjoy alcohol and drink responsibly from doing so," said U.K. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, "but we all face a cost from alcohol-related disorder and I have a duty to crack down on irresponsible promotions that can fuel excessive drinking."

The government also is proposing to ban "all you can drink" offers, curb promotional efforts that target specific groups, and supermarket offers requiring the purchase of a large amount of alcohol to receive a discount.

A mandatory code requiring training for bar staff and a requirement that staff inform bar patrons of the number of units of alcohol in every drink they sell were also announced.

While applauding the government's focus on promoting responsible drinking, Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said the proposals "will impose an unnecessary, disproportionate and costly red-tape burden on well-run community pubs."

Failure to comply with the proposed laws would result in a license review, possible fines of as much as $39,000 for the license holder, and a potential six-month jail sentence.