Angie Simmons, landlady of the Brents Tavern in Faversham, became worried after police officers asking her about underage drinking in the area.

She said people were less likely to buy alcohol for youngsters if it could be traced back to the pub's new register.

Kent Police said it would recommend the initiative to other licensees.

'Happy' customers

Mrs Simmons said: "We'd had a lot of problems with children congregating outside the back of our off-sale shop, trying to get people to buy alcohol and cigarettes for them.

"We were getting concerned because the police were coming round and asking us... if we'd sold to underage drinkers, which we hadn't done.

"We decided we'd record the time, the date, the name and the purchase of any alcohol sold through our off-sale shop.

"Since we have run the register things have improved no end and we do not have large groups of youths hanging around."

Mrs Simmons said most of her customers were happy to go along with the register.

Pc Ron Spreadbury, a local licensing officer, said there had not been "a complaint or call or anything" about underage drinking in the two weeks since the scheme began.