Eight years ago leading legal figures were tasked with developing legislation to tackle head-on Scotland's problem relationship with alcohol and simultaneously redress the existing cumbersome system, promote health, protect children and deliver the mythical drinking culture enjoyed on the continent.

The June 2001 launch of those admirable aims and 18 months since the ball of the so-called transition began rolling, what remains as the clock ticks towards the full implementation of the subsequent legislation tomorrow is confusion, chaos, a sense of anti-climax and swathes of alcohol-free areas.

With so much of those early intentions now moved into other longer-term legislation, diluted or just abandoned, Scotland is left with little more than a muddled attempt to make its licensed trade more accountable, a process which has descended into administrative meltdown and forced many out of business because of the burdens of bureaucracy.

However, for legislation still lauded as crucial in breaking Scotland's damaging love affair with alcohol, along with the health and financial implications that come with it, the average consumer will notice few, if any, changes - unless they are part of that tiny percentage of people in Scotland who shop for alcohol before 10am.

From tomorrow, any time after 10.01am will have to do.

The government has retreated on proposals that would have seen customers purchase their alcohol from a shop within a larger shop or at a separate check-out. Instead the legislation will force the end of "cross-marketing displays" such as gin amongst the lemons and limes, chardonnay in the cheese counter and crates of larger alongside garden furniture or temptingly at the entrances to stores.

The stand-alone shelves where most Scots currently pick up their bottles of Shiraz and real ale will now be the only part of the store allowed to sell alcohol.

The act also introduces new rights for members of the public to object to an application anywhere in Scotland. In the past, it was confined to people who lived in the immediate area.

The weight of an objection from Stornaway to a new off-sales in Stranraer remains to be seen. Then there is the ongoing confusion as to what it all means.

The government stands accused by some quarters of failing to provide any top-down clarity over what is expected. Come tomorrow, there may be as many interpretations of the law than there are licensing boards.

Already Edinburgh and Dundee are exploring whether they have scope to ban promotions beyond pubs and clubs, despite government guidance issued in 2007 suggesting promotional activity was never intended to be prohibited within off-sales.

Cheap wine and beer "promos" will still be available at every supermarket across the country for the foreseeable future, with the case for clarity not assisted by SNP MSP Michael Matheson's "renewed call" yesterday "to end the sale of cheap alcohol in Scotland's supermarkets".

Meanwhile, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association estimates that it has cost the industry £60m to enter the new system, a cost that has resulted in an estimated one-fifth of licensed premises in rural Scotland deciding it has not been financially worthwhile.

In the quest to find an answer to our alcohol ills, the collateral damage has been significant.

Community halls, rural shops selling the odd bottle of whisky, guest houses where customers can enjoy a bottle of wine with a meal or even pubs with little footfall to speak of have decided that costs of between £5000 and £8000 to sell alcohol after tomorrow are just not worth it.

Then there is the state of preparedness of licensing boards, those bodies which now have even greater powers to determine drinking habits and livelihoods.

With one full day to go before full implementation, The Herald asked most major licensing boards where they were in the process and what difference the new act would mean to their citizens.

The results are a shocking indication of how the trade and authorities have readied themselves. Many premises will operate outwith the letter of the law, forcing authorities to soft-pedal in the coming months if they are to avoid shutting over half of Scotland's licensed trade.

John Drummond, chief executive of Scottish Grocers' Federation, said: "Retailers are anxious and annoyed that delays in processing licences by the boards mean many are still waiting for personal and premises licences, some of which were applied for as far back as 2008.

"Through no fault of their own retailers face the possibility of trading illegally on September 1, which is completely unacceptable. With little or no guidance being issued by the licensing boards, retailers can only hope licensing standards officers will take a common-sense approach to enforcement in the coming months."

Patrick Browne, chief executive of Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said: "The Scottish Government seems incapable or unwilling to intervene to force licensing boards to actually complete the process of licensing transition which has now lasted 18 months and has cost tens of millions of pounds."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "This government is confident the effects of these changes will be to raise standards across the trade, to help prevent crime and disorder, protect and improve public health, and protect children from harm."