FOURTEEN underage drinkers have been banned from pubs in Winchester following a clampdown on fake identity cards.

The tough stance by the city’s Pubwatch scheme means the teenagers are now barred from city centre pubs for six months after their 18th birthdays.

But some Winchester residents say the success of the clampdown has led to more drinking in parks such as Oram’s Arbour.

Local police commander Kevin Baxman said he had no evidence that there was a link, and asserted that the police will deal with antisocial behaviour.

Pubwatch chiefs and licensees hailed the crackdown after a marked drop in the number of children using fake IDs. Most of those caught are 17-years-old.

Keith Wilson, of the Winchester City Centre Partnership, said: “It’s been quite successful. Some venues have seen a marked drop in people using fake IDs.

“We see an awful lot of people using other people’s ID that are then handed back to the DVLA or the Passport Office. This seems to be having a positive effect.”

At present, under-18s caught with illicit, borrowed or altered identity cards, have their pictures circulated to the 33 licensed premises in Pubwatch.

If door staff suspect a fake ID they will confiscate it and hand it to the police. The police return confiscated driving licences and passports to the DVLA and Passport Agency, destroy all other forms of fake ID, and investigate further.

Pubwatch chairman, Alex Vassilakis, assistant manager at the Porthouse, said: “There has been a fair number of people caught.

“I have certainly noticed a decrease of people using fake IDs at the Porthouse. The person that owns the borrowed IDs are having to go without their passports and driving licences, so it’s having an effect on them too.”

Although Pubwatch was launched in 1997, the tough stance was only introduced six weeks ago after increasing concerns about children trying to sneak into pubs, especially those with late licences.

Sgt Colin Bulpett, city centre beat sergeant, said: “It’s working in most of the main pubs and the smaller venues are now being encouraged to enforce the ban.

“Although the number seems low initially, it’s more of a deterrent. It’s telling people that fake IDs won’t work.”

The premises most affected are those with late licences: Porthouse; Bar3One; Blonde Beer Café; Greens; Mix Bar; O’Neills; Pitcher and Piano; Slug and Lettuce; Railway Inn; and Alfies.

Residents living near Oram’s Arbour, however, have reported an unwanted spinoff, saying they have noticed an increase in outdoor drinking by youngsters.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “There has been loads of trouble there.

“Last Saturday morning it looked like Beirut. There must have been 200 empty bottles there. The alcohol exclusion zone could be better enforced.”

Insp Kevin Baxman, Winchester police commander, said he had received letters from residents in the Orams Arbour area.

He said yesterday (Wednesday): “There are concerns we are not dealing with it efficiently enough, but we will deal with it robustly.

“We won’t tolerate people upsetting other people’s quality of life.

“We are aware of the problem and will clamp down on it. We will make sure people are not drinking there, a) because they are juveniles, and b) because it is in the alcohol exclusion zone.

“Whilst we can’t promise to attend every incident, we need to know about them.

“There is nothing to suggest that juveniles, because they are finding it harder to get into pubs, are turning to drinking outside.

“I don’t think there is a connection, I think they are different sorts of people.”