Participating pubs will display a sticker in the window

New laws mean that bar staff as well as the licensee can be prosecuted for selling alcohol to under 18s.

The "Validate" card scheme will provide proof of age for buying a range of restricted goods, from alcohol to solvents, cigarettes and knives.

The scheme will be officially begin at 1000 GMT on Monday at the Chicago Rock Caf� in Oxford.

Move welcomed

George McPhillips, landlord of the Crown Inn in the city centre, said he welcomes the move.

"It's extremely difficult, especially in Oxford where we have so many young students all bordering on 17, 18.

"A lot of times when we get the new influx a lot of students come up for two weeks at a time - underage - they come up to look at colleges."

Sixty city-centre pubs and clubs who are backing the scheme will display a sticker in the window.

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."