Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said “ridiculously low” pricing of alcohol had contributed to Scotland’s serious alcohol problem.

Two Dundee pubs are rolling back the cost of a pint of beer to 1989 prices, and reducing the cost of six other drinks, as part of a promotion by the huge JD Wetherspoon chain at The Counting House and The Capitol.

While Counting House manager Ranald Duncan insists customers will be served “responsibly”, the promotion flies in the face of government plans to outlaw cheap alcohol and introduce minimum pricing, a move backed by the British Medical Association and NHS Tayside.

Ms Robison said, “All licence holders need to remember that the privilege to sell alcohol brings responsibilities with it.

“There’s nothing wrong with drinking in moderation, but it’s hard to see how pricing this low isn’t going to encourage excessive drinking, which can result in violence and crime as well as accidents and a range of health problems.

“Scotland has a serious alcohol problem which has got significantly worse in recent years, fuelled in no small part by ridiculously low pricing of some products.

“There’s no doubt that rock-bottom prices add to a culture where it’s OK to and normal to drink to excess.”

Mr Duncan said, “Department stores and shops hold their sales in January, so I thought it would be a good idea to have a sale in the pub too.

“The range of drinks on sale is aimed at suiting a variety of tastes. As always, staff at the pub will serve customers responsibly.”

Asked for Dundee City Council’s position on the Wetherspoon promotion today, a spokesperson for the local authority responded, “Wetherspoons do not need any permission from the licensing board.

“The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 requires them to keep any discounted prices in place for a minimum of 72 hours.

“As the discounted prices are also not conditional on purchasing any other drinks, this is not in breach of the Act’s provisions.”