A CLAMPDOWN on public drinking in Southampton's clubland area is likely to come into force early next year.

However, calls by Labour members for a city-wide ban on people who drink in public has been turned-down by councillors following legal advice.

At a full council debate last night members were told by the city's top lawyer, Mark Heath, that a proposed city-wide ban on drinking would face legal difficulties and would be impossible to introduce under current legislation.

But members agreed to press ahead with a ban on public drinking in the city's so called "clubland" area between Above Bar and Town Quay - in spite of fears from Labour members that drunks would move into residential areas in the city centre.

The bar on public drinking would mean yobs could be fined for drinking in public places - and have their drink taken away by police.