Gordon Brown has told the drinks industry a "cultural shift" is needed if the battle against underage and binge-drinking is to be won.
The Prime Minister also urged people to take "personal responsibility" to help solve alcohol-related issues.
Brown made his comments following an 80-minute breakfast meeting with trade leaders, supermarket chiefs, police, doctors and academics at 10 Downing Street last week.
However, he did not rule out a "revision" of the Licensing Act. The government is due to report early next year on its review of the Act, which came fully into force two years ago this week.
The issue of alcohol has become a key government priority, but the pub trade can take some heart from last week's meeting - also attended by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Culture Secretary James Purnell.
Brown said after the meeting: "We have heard a number of very powerful proposals but it is clear that the solution lies beyond a stream of individual measures.
"It's about creating a cultural shift, having local co-ordination, better education and enforcement and individuals taking personal responsibility."
Further action will be drawn up based on a series of one-to-one follow-up meetings with "key stakeholders" from last week's summit.
Trade leaders at the meeting appeared tentatively upbeat.
Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said it was "useful". He added: "It was important that the Prime Minister heard all the views of those involved. I'm pleased the idea of individual responsibility was recognised."
Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, said: "The most important outcome was the consensus that there is no magic bullet to deal with problem drinking, and that a co-ordinated approach is needed."
The Publican understands that some members of the health lobby present questioned recent trade figures showing a fall in alcohol consumption levels.
The meeting came in the week the Home Office launched a Christmas enforcement campaign targeting problem pubs that sell to drunks (see box).
Downing Street also confirmed that councils would be able to designate alcohol disorder zones from January.
Areas to explore
After the meeting the Home Office said it would look at the following:
• The role of culture and the use of education to help change the culture of binge-drinking
• More advice and guidance to parents
• More joint work at a local level, led by Crime Reduction Disorder Partnerships
• Possible new legislation - but everyone needs to be clear on the powers that are already available
• Treatment - pilots on alcohol arrest referrals already under way
• The role of pricing and promotions.
Stings target drunks
Undercover stings targeting pubs that serve to drunks are set to kick-off on Saturday (December 1).
Around 90 police forces in England and Wales will be involved in the two-phase Home Office campaign.Barstaff face a fixed penalty fine of £80 if found "knowingly" selling to someone who is drunk.
Awareness visits to inform pubs about the campaign are taking place until this Friday (November 30), with 'Think before they Drink' posters available to licensees.
Phase two of the campaign, running from December 1 to 23, will see police target problem venues, where drunk customers are being allowed to enter.
The visits will take place in the four weekends before Christmas, involving 1,300 "problem" licensed premises, believed to be associated with alcohol-related problems, crime and disorder.
The campaign will also focus on underage sales.