Anti-social drinkers could be banned from city centres under the initiative

Police are being encouraged to use anti-social behaviour orders to ban drunks from pubs and even city centres.

Seventy unspecified areas in England and Wales will be the focus of the government's drive from 8 July.

Irresponsible drinkers spilling out into the street at closing time will be targeted, as will licensed premises which encourage binge drinking.

'No-go areas'

Off-licences and bars suspected of selling alcohol to under-age drinkers will face "sting" operations, the Home Office said.

Youngsters aged under 18 will be sent in to buy goods from the premises and catch irresponsible businesses.

A Home Office spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "It is going to be running through the summer and then intermittently afterwards.

Irresponsible off-licences could be caught out by 'sting' operations

"We are looking to kick off a change of culture, knowing that irresponsible bars and clubs can't get away any longer with encouraging binge-drinking."

The alcohol enforcement campaign will be aimed at 70 local police areas where tackling drink-related disorder is considered to be a priority.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has said he will not tolerate anti-social drunks turning city centres into "no-go areas".

Alcohol is the root cause of 44% of violent crime and 70% of weekend night admissions to casualty, according to Home Office statistics.