Scotland's biggest health board is to intervene to halt controversial plans for a charity race offering runners wine at rest stops.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it would "contest any application" for the 10K 'Wineatholon' to be held in Glasgow this autumn as the planned event faces the prospect of falling foul of liquor laws.

Hundreds of people have already paid £18 to enter the race, on September 24, ahead of the route being finalised, with the Yorkshire-based organisers claiming it will "put the fun back into run".

The event proposes a stop-off every two miles offering runners wine samples from different world regions of the world, with bottles available to buy at the end of the race.

It comes just a week after the UK's chief medical officers issued new drinking guidelines around the health risks linked to alcohol.

Organisers TeamOA have similar events south of the border with around 3000 participants. But their first foray into Scotland looks certain to face critical hurdles, including a much more robust licensing regime.

Wane Law, of TeamOA, refused to give even a general location for the proposed route, going now further than saying it would not be in Glasgow city centre but "way south of that".

However, street drinking is banned in both Glasgow and southern neighbour East Renfrewshire meaning even handing out samples would require a licence, as would any wine sales at the race's conclusion.

Also, any 'free alcohol to competitors' loophole has also been closed off within Scots law as runners are required to pay to enter the run, with the wine then considered 'a sale'.

The requirement for potentially several licence will see both formal objections to the plan, with Police Scotland also expected to express an interest, and the decision to give the go-ahead or not resting with the relevant local licensing board.

An NHS spokesman said: "We would contest any application for this event. Not only is alcohol detrimental to sports performance, but this proposed event stands against our public health messages."

Jack Cummins, one of the country's leading liquor lawyer and former Government advisor on licensing, said: “The event organisers look to be stepping into a licensing minefield. And they shouldn’t take any comfort from their experience south of the border where different legislation applies.

"In the current climate, especially with the promotion of the Scottish ‘protection of public health’ objective very much in the ascendant, jumping the licensing hurdles is likely to be very problematic indeed.”

Alison Douglas, chief executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “This event is clearly a gimmick, however, three people dying every day due to alcohol in Scotland is no joke.

“Most people will see this event for what it is: at best ill-thought through and at worst placing people’s health at risk rather than helping them improve it.”

Mr Law re-affirmed his company's experience in staging similar events and said that although this was their first Scottish event he was aware of legislative differences.

He said: "We are fully aware of the licensing issues there. We are not giving any more details on the plans until we have finalised things with out chosen charity.

"We're giving people the chance to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. It doesn't have to be about alcohol. We've staged Pieathalons and Chocathalons in the past and its about giving people something a little bit different.

"The wine samples are only about half a unit. People have become fixated on the wine."