At the same time, it believes the Licensing (Scotland) Act, which will be fully implemented in the region in September next year, could adversely affect responsible licensees and have a detrimental economic and social impact on communities.

After a two-hour hearing last week, the panel, comprising backbench councillors, also expressed concern at the high turnover of managers in some licensed premises operated by the larger pub chains which could ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of hotels and pubs in the region.

It is now likely that SBC's executive will take the panel's message to the Scottish Government in the hope political pressure can be exerted on supermarkets, brewers and major off-sales outlets to curb the discounted promotions which, scrutiny believes, is the principal factor in binge drinking.

SBC has been charged to come up with a self-financing scheme of operation which will be policed by two licensing standards officers whose posts are currently being advertised.

Pub licensees, who currently pay £172 for a three-year licence to sell alcohol, will have to fork out up to £1,600 just to register their premises under the new system. An annual fee on top of that has yet to be worked out. The charges, based on rateable values, have been fixed at the discretion of SBC.

Registration also involves all applicants, old and new, commissioning and presenting detailed drawings of their premises to ensure they comply with fire and health-and-safety regulations. Operating plans and risk assessments must also be prepared. On top of that, every operator must obtain a personal license costing £50 and only after special training, paid for by the premises licensee, will these authorisations be granted.

The dual licence system will replace the separate licenses which currently govern the region's 400 pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and off-sales shops.

The fundamental principles of the Act are to prevent crime, disorder and public nuisance, secure public safety, protect children from harm and improve public health.

Giving evidence to the hearing was Mark Hay, of both the Queen's Head in Kelso and the Town Arms in Selkirk.

"Many smaller traders will be unable to carry these additional costs and be driven out of the trade," predicted Mr Hay. "There is much more paperwork to complete in the shape of forms and plans, while the financial burden does not just relate to the cost of licenses but extends to architects' fees and the cost of training.

"The Act does not address binge or under-age drinking which emanate mainly from supermarket off-sales. Instead, it seems to be targeting existing licensees who run good and responsible businesses.

"I think the days of traditional pubs in the Borders are numbered."

The meeting heard from Susan Black, of NHS Borders' drug and alcohol team, that, based on referrals, the incidence of people drinking at home had risen by 62 per cent.