POLICE in Oxfordshire said they would be cracking down on pubs and clubs who serve drink to under-age people and those who are drunk.

The force said it would be carrying out operations in conjunction with the Home Office Christmas Campaign, the Reasonable Alcohol Sale Campaign (RASC).

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "The Christmas campaign will last over the festive season and will focus on targeting premises that can be considered irresponsible and problematic.

"These are licensed premises that continue to serve alcohol to customers who are under-age or very drunk."

Tony Cope, licensing officer said: "RASC will encourage the use of powers contained within the Licensing Act 2003, in particular section 141, which makes it an offence to sell alcohol to people who are drunk.

"The campaign is timed to coincide with a seasonal peak of excessive and problematic drinking and it is anticipated that the warning of enforcement with regard to these offences, particularly the sales to drunks, will have a considerable and positive impact across the whole licensing trade.

"This will encourage existing problematical and irresponsible venues to comply with legislation and their own industry Social Responsibility Standards.' If this is achieved we can hope for less drunken anti-social behaviour and alcohol fuelled violence."