Winchester is set to get tough on people boozing in public parts of the city centre.

Licensing chiefs on Tuesday approved an order to give more powers to police to crack down on antisocial drinking.

In effect, it is similar to a bylaw, previously considered by the council, but never brought in. The order, once implemented, would give officers powers to stop someone drinking in a public place and to confiscate any alcohol.

Drinkers who flout the rules and refuse to comply could face a fine of up to £500.

Director of community services, Steve Tilbury, was keen to point out that the order would not prevent people drinking. "The offence is not the drinkingit's the failure to comply with the police," he said.

Licensing chairman, Robert Johnston, said: "Within the designated area, police will be able to confiscate drink from anybody and pour it down the drain. It is, in effect, a bylaw."

Mr Johnston added that the police were "enthused" about the scheme and had submitted a report identifying hotspots in the city where there was evidence that nuisance and disorder were associated with people consuming alcohol.

The area considered suitable for the order is a square kilometre that includes Jewry Street, The Square, Cathedral Green, Abbey Gardens, Oram's Arbour and the Register Office.

Other parts of the city that fall into the zone are bounded by Colebrook Street, Eastgate Street, Friarsgate, Upper Brook Street, City Road, Market Street, Station Road and Station Approach.

Licensing chiefs also agreed to extend the area to include land from the bridge at the bottom of the High Street to The Weirswhere they said there had been incidents of drinking and antisocial behaviour.

The measures have been greeted with widespread approval from police, licensees and city residents.

Inspector Kevin Baxman, in charge of policing in Winchester, said: "We wholeheartedly support the move. High on the agenda of people in Winchester is the antisocial behaviour that affects their day-to day lives. We need to stamp it out."

"A lot of violence in the city is caused by excess alcohol consumption and a lot is in public spaces."

Mr Baxman said the law, which had been introduced successfully by other constabularies across the country, would go "some way to making people's lives more comfortable".

He added that although the measure would target all drinkers, it would specifically help to tackle the problem of under-age drinkers, who gathered in public spaces because they couldn't get into pubs.

Louise Akers, chairman of Pubwatch, and licensee of The Slug and Lettuce, The Square, Winchester, said: "Pubwatch totally supports this. As licensees we are often criticised for drunk and disorderly behaviour on the streets and in a lot of cases they have not been drinking in licensed places.

"I think it will discourage people from drinking on the streets and puts a lot of control back into the police force."

Maurice Charrett, of the Winchester City Residents' Association, who formerly campaigned to introduce an alcohol bylaw in the city, said: "I'm delighted. There is a fear of Winchester city centre that the police say is a 'perception', but whether it's perceived or real, I think something needs to be done."

Mr Johnston said the order could not be made before consultation with groups affected, such as the police, parish councils and licensees in the area.

A meeting to implement the order will be held by the licensing committee on Tuesday, December 14th, but the order is not expected to take effect until the New Year.

l As part of a nationwide campaign to crack down on alcohol related crime, Hampshire County Council took part in a summer blitz to find out how often alcohol is sold illegally to underage drinkers.

Trading Standards officers completed 50 test sales of alcohol to underage drinkers at offences across the county in July and August. Off-licences throughout the county were tested and in 30% of cases, people under 18 were sold alcohol.

Since April this year, trading standards have received 70 complaints about under-18s being sold alcohol in Hampshire. The total number of complaints from April 2003 to April 2004 was 109.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Ken Thornber said: "The results of the summer blitz have highlighted the responsibilities we all have to curb the drinking culture among young people."