Campaigners yesterday praised the Scottish Government for its "courage" in considering radical new plans to tackle alcohol abuse by upping the age limit.

However, representatives of the licensed trade industry said the proposals to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, revealed in The Herald yesterday, were naive and unworkable.

The Scottish Government confirmed last night it is considering the move as part of a package to be unveiled later this year.

Ministers have been studying the plan to raise the legal age for buying drink as they draw up a long-term strategy for tackling Scotland's alcohol problem.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said the strategy would include "availability, accessibility and age of purchase".

Figures released last year showed that Scots were twice as likely to die from alcohol-related deaths as drinkers in the UK as a whole.

Ms Robison said yesterday: "We all know that Scotland as a nation has a drink problem and the implications of this are very serious - not least for our health."

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (Shaap), which has petitioned the parliament for tougher restrictions on the sale of alcohol, praised the move.

Evelyn Gillan, Shaap director, said: "There is some evidence from the US where their age limit is 21 that suggests raising the limit like that goes some way towards reducing the burden of the harm of alcohol.

"It moves young people away from the binge-drinking aspect and there is some positive evidence that would support that move."

She added: "No one measure is going to solve Scotland's problem with alcohol but what we are seeing from this government is a real commitment to trying new things and that has to be welcomed. We've been trying to tackle the same problem in the same way for years with things such as education campaigns which are found to be the least effective.

"Obviously the trade is going to oppose it, but the industry opposes any regulatory measures; what it supports is education campaigns and responsible drinking campaigns so we very much congratulate the government for having the courage to do this."

However, Patrick Browne, of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said it was "strange" that a change to the legal drinking age was being considered before the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 comes into force next year.

He added: "In terms of the wider issue I am not sure what raising the age limit will achieve because I think young people will obtain alcohol from a variety of sources - not least family - and the issue arises of enforcing the laws as they stand at the moment which is difficult enough.

"Raising the age limit further will make it even more difficult to enforce the law."

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "It is naive to think that this will stop people who are aged 18, 19 and 20 from drinking or that it will have any effect on Scotland's uncomfortable relationship with alcohol.

"To suggest that it will make any difference to raise the age limit is nonsense; it simply penalises everyone.

"We have suggested other ways, like cutting irresponsible promotions and end the situation in supermarkets where alcohol is cheaper than water."

In most countries the legal age for buying alcohol is 18, but there are some countries - most notably the US - where those buying drink must be aged 21 or over.

The proposal to raise the legal drinking age in Scotland was announced as it emerged that health boards across Scotland are to get £25m as part of a £85m funding package to tackle alcohol misuse over the next three years.