Plans to impose a controversial curfew on Aberdeen pubs are underway despite unanimous opposition from the city's licensees.
According to Aberdeen's licensing board, banning entry to venues after 12.30 is the only way to curb rowdy city centre drinking.
The policy is expected to come into force in September.
Aberdeen pubs now typically open until 1am, clubs till 3am and there are five casinos which open until 6am.
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, described the policy as "ill-judged" and said it would damage an already fragile trade while doing little to improve Aberdeen's late-night drink problems.
"Until people accept that most of the trouble in Scottish city centres is caused by cheap buys from supermarkets - people getting drunk before they arrive at pub or club - things will not improve," he said.
But licensing board chairwoman Councillor Muriel Jaffrey said: "We'll listen to what the trade has to say before the final decision on hours, but this will go ahead, and will stop people 'rakin' aboot' (wandering about) and causing problems."
She added she had seen at first hand the trouble caused by unruly behaviour as a result of drinking alcohol, and was determined to take further action.
But Ross Ewan, from Aberdeen's Chicago Rock Café venue, said the new measure was bound to fail.
"I see what the board are trying to achieve, but they've gone about it in the wrong way - this will simply lead to lots of angry people not understanding why they can't get into a club."
And Calum White, from the Illicit Still pub, said that more policing should be enforced instead of the proposed curfew.
"You don't really see problems until the weekend - and then Aberdeen, a very compact city centre, really needs conspicuous policing in bright yellow jackets."