PUBS are being targeted for spot checks as part of national campaign to crackdown on violence caused by too much drink.
Merseyside police will be visiting licensed premises in Cronton and Rainhill as part of the national Tackling Violent Crime Campaign spearheaded by the Home Office.
The new campaign estimates alcohol related violence costs the country about £20 billion a year and aims to combat illegal selling and irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
It follows on from the Christmas National Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign which saw 2,000 visits being carried out by Merseyside police officers.
Eight premises out of the 94 where test purchases were carried out committed an offence and 500 items of alcohol were confiscated with more than 50% seized from children. Three hundred fixed penalty notices were issued.
Police officers will be working throughout the coming months with trading standards and local partners including pubs and retailers to prevent the sale of alcohol to those under age, or who are drunk and likely to engage in violent and dis-orderly behaviour. Landlords serving beyond the licensing hours also face a run in with the law.
A high profile marketing campaign will accompany the scheme with posters being displayed in pub and club toilets, doctors surgeries, hospitals and police station inquiry offices with slogans including 'Don't get punch drunk', 'At 10pm she was a party animal, by 2am she's all partied out' and 'That's an £80 fine and no, we're not taking the ****'.
The police will be carrying out high visibility patrols in target areas and police on the borders of Widnes and Merseyside will be targeting hotspots for anti-social youths.
Chief Superintendent Paul Forrester said: 'This isn't about stopping people having a good time - just the opposite. We want to make sure that people out for an enjoyable night don't have it spoiled by others.'
