The four week, £250,000, Responsible Alcohol Sales Campaign will see plain clothes police officers visit pubs and clubs that have a reputation for alcohol-related violence.

The campaign will also be targeting ‘proxy sales’, where an adult buys alcohol for under age drinkers.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said: “We are not spoiling people’s fun. We are getting tough with those few irresponsible retailers that continue to flout the law.”