Councils are to be urged to get tough on supermarkets and off-licences that sell alcohol cheaply in a second national strategy to combat alcohol-related disorder.
While the behaviour of pubs and clubs was a key part of the Home Office's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, released in 2003, a follow-up plan due this year is set to focus more on the conduct of the off-trade.
The Home Office can see vast amounts of alcohol going through supermarkets, off-licences and corner shops at prices that are not comparable to the on-trade BEDA senior consultant Jon Collins.
The plans were discussed in a meeting between the Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (BEDA) and Home Office official Alex Lahood.
BEDA senior consultant Jon Collins said he does not expect the Home Office to run more Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns soon as the funding is not available and police forces now regularly carry out their own campaigns.
Collins said one option under discussion was urging councils to review licences of off-trade premises where there is a link between cheap alcohol and disorder or underage drinking.
This could lead to tough conditions on licences, such as tighter age checks, extra security, or even forcing all alcohol sales to be made from designated tills, a recommendation from Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.
"The indication we got was this is going to be considered," said Collins.
"The Home Office are more concerned about the off-trade than the on-trade. They can see vast amounts of alcohol going through supermarkets, off-licences and corner shops at prices that are not comparable to the on-trade."
But BEDA executive director Paul Smith stressed that pubs and clubs will continue to be under scrutiny.
"There will be plenty of issues where we have to show responsible retailing. What we've got at last now is acknowledgment that we've done good work."
The strategy is due for consultation in the next few weeks.