LICENSED premises in a North-East town will be the target of a Christmas crackdown carried out by police and trading standards chiefs.
Officers will be attempting to stamp out drink-related problems in Darlington during the next two weeks.
A joint letter from the police and trading standards has been sent to 250 pubs, clubs and off-licences warning that premises could be the subject of lunchtime checks.
Officers will be checking for evidence of under-age sales, sales to people already drunk, incorrect displays of price lists, among other offences.
Stephen Harker, Darlington Borough Council's consumer services spokesman, said: "As well as safeguarding people's well-being, the campaign aims to curb the level of anti-social behaviour that is unfortunately associated with consuming too much alcohol."
Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington police, said: "Everyone wants to enjoy Christmas and New Year and we don't want to stop that. But it's important that one person's celebration doesn't cause misery to others."
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