The move comes with areas such as Helensburgh Central and East showing higher than the Scottish average figures in terms of alcohol diagnosis/hospitalisations – along with communities in Dunoon, Rothesay, Oban, and Campbeltown.

However, publicans and licensed premises owners say they have not heard anything about the consultation, which began last week.

It is not clear at this stage what action will be taken by the licensing board after the consultation is complete – although it is understood the board will be recommended to limit the provision of licences.

Publicans in the town say they are not to blame for alcohol-related crime and health issues caused by drinking, and have instead called for minimum unit pricing to be brought in to prevent cheap drink deals in shops.

The call comes days after European Court of Justice advocate general Yves Bot said any move towards minimum pricing risked infringing EU rules on free trade. In an official opinion, he said it would only be legal if it could be shown no other mechanism could deliver the desired public health benefits.

Legislation to bring in a minimum unit price of 50p was passed by the Scottish Parliament in May 2012.

In a preliminary report to the Argyll and Bute Licensing Board in June, statistics from Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Scottish Ambulance Service appear to indicate that an over provision of licensed premises could contribute to incidents of crime, health, and fire in the towns.

Police Scotland figures revealed Helensburgh Central is ranked highest in the region for Alcohol Specific Crimes per 1,000 people, and for Youth Drinking Incidents per 1,000 people.

Statistics from Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) showed Argyll and Bute has fewer alcohol outlets than Scotland as a whole, but has pockets of high availability – one quarter of neighbourhoods in the region have an outlet density greater than the Scottish average.

AFS also stated that in Argyll and Bute as a whole, there is an annual average of 22 alcohol-related deaths (24 deaths per 100,000 adults); similar to the Scottish average of 25 deaths per 100,000.

In addition, areas with the highest density of on-sale premises showed death rates 60 per cent higher than areas with the lowest.

Areas with the highest density of off-sales premises showed hospitalisations 167 per cent higher than areas with the lowest.

It is estimated alcohol-related crime cost over £10 million in Argyll and Bute, according to figures published by AFS for 2010/11.

Health costs were around £4 million for the same time period.

As part of the major consultation, questions about over provision – considering the number, type, and capacity of licensed premises – will involve community councils, local licence holders, young people, Argyll and Bute councillors, Police Scotland, NHS Highland, the Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership, and Argyll and The Isles Tourism Co-operative.

Meetings will be arranged with relevant groups in each of the areas concerned, inviting their input.

A consultant will be at the Helensburgh Community Council meeting to discuss the survey this evening (Thursday, September 24).

Councillor Rory Colville, Argyll and Bute Licensing Board chairman, said: “The responsibilities of the Licensing Board are far reaching within our communities – with the protection of children and young persons, health, and public order having to be taken into consideration while determining licence applications.

“At the same time, we must undertake our responsibilities whilst recognising the whisky industry, in particular, plays an important part in the well-being of the Argyll and Bute economy, providing much-needed employment in some of our more rural and isolated communities but also through attracting visitors to Scotland.

“Tourism activity links closely with food and drink, the retail sector and recreational activities.

“In light of all of this, board members take all their decisions very seriously and reviewing possible over provision is an important part of our duties.

“I would encourage everyone who is approached about this consultation to consider taking part.

“This will feed into the relevant decision making process by the Licensing Board.” The consultation is being undertaken on behalf of the Licensing Board by Iconic Consulting of Edinburgh, who will report their findings to Argyll and Bute Licensing Board by the end of October 2015.