HUNDREDS of pubs in Scotland's largest city could soon open at 11am on Sundays under plans being floated by licensing chiefs.

Trade lobbyists have been pushing for the move in Glasgow, arguing that earlier opening hours would benefit the tourism economy and sports fans.

But the proposals have been criticised by health bodies, who claim liberalising the licensing regime would serve a "business agenda" and simply see more alcohol consumed.

Even the leader of the city council, of which the licensing board is a semi-autonomous part, said the move would be a "backward step" which would "ramp up Glasgow's booze culture".

The city's licensing authority is now consulting on the plans. The move follows a request by the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA).

Along with Edinburgh, Glasgow is one of the few remaining areas in Scotland where Sunday opening remains at 12.30pm. In some areas Sabbath drinks are served from as early as 10am.

According to the SBPA, earlier opening would give pubs a more even playing field with supermarkets, which can sell alcohol from 10am on Sundays, and let them fall into line with most of the rest of Scotland.

Chief executive Patrick Browne said: "Trading on a Sunday morning would be great for pubs and other licensed premises. It would be great news for customers and sports fans and it would end the current problems which publicans and their staff have in trying to explain to tourists visiting Glasgow why they can't have a drink before 12.30 on a Sunday despite being able to have a drink every other morning of the week if they want to.

"Sunday morning trading would be a welcome boost for the trade, our customers, the city's tourists and boost Glasgow's image as a dynamic, metropolitan city."

The consultation will run until the end of March, with the local licensing forum, made up of health officials, the police, council and trade representatives, playing a key role in whether the plan goes forward.

If the changes are approved, "permitted hours" would be from 11am to midnight but pubs would have to apply individually. Restaurants and hotels would also be included.

Premises where there may be concerns over early openings, particularly around Old Firm football games, could have conditions attached whereby the early hours did not apply on the days of the Glasgow derby.

The recently introduced liquor laws allow the council to curb opening hours and it is understood the reluctance in Glasgow to allow Sunday drinking is, in part, down to the perception of pubs being open when people are heading to and from church.

A spokesman for the board said the body now wanted "to draw upon as wide a range of opinions as possible".

But council leader Gordon Matheson, whose administration last year launched its own crusade against the ill-effects of alcohol, said: "People want some respite from the effects of booze culture. Police and other emergency services already have enough on their plates without them having to manage Glasgow's problem with alcohol on a Sunday morning as well.

"This proposal to extend Sunday opening is the wrong move at the wrong time."

Dr Evelyn Gillan, chief executive at Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "We know from a wide range of evidence that increasing access to alcohol is linked to a range of alcohol-related problems in our communities, including social disorder and crime. For the good of Scotland's communities, we would strongly urge members of all licensing boards to resist attempts by both the on- and off-trade to increase access to alcohol through the extension of licensing hours."

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems is made up of many of the leading medical experts on alcohol. It said: "Glasgow has the highest alcohol-related death rate in the UK. It is difficult to see how allowing licensed premises to stay open for longer and sell more alcohol will help improve that statistic.

"Regrettably, the measure proposed in this consultation appears to serve a business agenda."