The card will help prevent underage drinkers buying alcohol

Oxford police have joined forces with Validate UK to adopt the card, which provides proof of age for young people aged from 12 to 18 years old.

The voluntary card is nationally recognised and aims to stop underage shoppers buying age-restricted goods.

Local licensee members of Oxford Pubwatch have also unanimously backed the scheme in the hope of tackling underage drinking.

Age-restricted products Videos, cinema and computer games 12, 15 and 18 years Liqueur chocolates 16 Cigarettes and tobacco 16 Petrol 16 Lottery tickets, scratch cards 16 Party poppers and caps 16 Knives 16 Air guns and pellets 17 Alcohol, solvents 18 Tattooing 18 Butane gas cigarette lighter refills, fireworks 18 (source: British Retail Consortium)

Pc Bill Denver, licensing officer for Oxford and the driving force behind the scheme's introduction, said: "There are many proof-of-age cards available and for a long time the licensees in Oxford have expressed their concern over which cards were safe to accept.

"By adopting one card it will make the licensees' jobs easier."

Youngsters in Oxford will now be encouraged to obtain the card, which comes in two formats - one for over 16-year-olds and one for over 18s.

The cards will also offer vendors some degree of protection from being duped by underage customers.

Carole Brodie, of Validate UK, said: "Recent changes in licensing legislation have meant there is greater pressure on licensees to ascertain the age of a young person before they sell alcohol. This is often a very difficult task."

Each card has a scanned colour photo, scanned signature, hologram and date of birth and age-attainment boxes showing the actual date a holder reaches their 18th birthday.