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Pub and bar industry representatives have defended 'happy hour' promotions while giving evidence to MPs.
They suggested that it was supermarket drink promotions, and not extended opening hours, that have led to young people staying out later.
The Commons home affairs committee published a report on Monday accusing drinks retailers of fostering a "world of alcohol promotions for profit that fuels surges in disorder".
But the industry spokesmen, appearing before the Commons culture, media and sport committee on Tuesday, denied the claims.
Nick Bish of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers said corporate social responsibility in the industry had "never been higher".
And he defended the practice of offering cheap drinks during 'happy hour', saying: "I think the difference in promotions is whether the purpose is to consume alcohol and get drunk, or whether the alcohol is part of the enjoyment package.
"If the promotion has the intention of consuming alcohol with the purpose of getting drunk then I think it's irresponsible."
John McNamara of the British Institute of Innkeeping said there was "no evidence that happy hours are a problem", adding that they often take place at 6pm, well before alcohol-related disorder is likely to take place.
Accused by Liberal Democrat MP Adrian Sanders of representing an industry that "does do very cheap deals on alcohol", Rob Hayward - chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association - admitted that certain kinds of promotion could be a problem.
He said the BBPA had introduced rules three years ago banning promotions including speed drinking - such as free drinks until a football team scores - or quantity drinking, such as drink all you can for £5.
The rules were no longer in place, he said, because "we've been clearly advised by our lawyers that we can't continue to do that because it's deemed to be anti-competitive".
The witnesses were called as part of the committee's inquiry into the functioning of the 2003 Licensing Act, and all agreed it had been a success.
Hayward said his "one regret" was that it had not yet led to a "demographic shift" in city centres which saw older people out on Friday and Saturday nights.
"So that, for example, people would leave the theatres in the West End and stay on and we would have older people mixing with the younger people in the different venues, we haven't seen that," he said.
Bish said there was a perception that "the night time is young people's time", but said that had to do with young people buying drink from the supermarkets first before heading out later, a practice known as "pre-loading".
"There is as social change of young people coming out very late which is a different matter and much more to do with cheap alcohol availability through supermarkets," he said.
"That changes the aspirations of young people going out to clubs and pubs and bars late at night."
Since the 2003 Act, which gave premises more freedom to apply for late licences, the witnesses said there was no evidence it had led to an increase in public nuisance.
Figures did show a small increase in violent crimes between 3am and 5am under the new licensing regime, they said.
But Bish said it was possible the rise reflected increased reporting by police spending longer patrolling the streets since the laws were liberalised.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd