THE weekend ban on selling alcohol to under-21s in Devizes has been hailed such a success that towns across the country are considering doing the same.

Monday's meeting of Devizes and District Licensees' Association, formerly the Devizes Pubwatch scheme, heard that the former problems of under-age people buying drink from young adults on the Green and then drinking to excess had ceased, and the ban on the sales of alcoholic drink to people under 21 from off-licences from 3pm on Friday and Saturday was the reason for it.

Sgt Andy Peach said that as far as he was aware, officers were no longer witnessing the scenes of under-age drunkenness that had been seen before the new scheme was introduced in March.

Before then, at least one 14-year-old girl had to be treated at Devizes Community Hospital for the effects of alcoholic poisoning.

Sgt Peach said: "We seem to have got the message over to parents and kids that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable.

"There had been a danger of the situation spiralling out of control but we seem to have stopped it in its tracks.

"Only with the support of everyone in the town could it have worked and I think you can all congratulate yourselves on a job well done."

John Galbally, Kennet District Council's newly appointed anti-social behaviour reduction officer, said he had recently been to a conference where the under-21 ban had been the subject on everyone's lips.

He said: "Some of them had considered a blanket under-21 ban but stopped short of putting it into practice. The Home Office is looking at it with a view to putting it into effect across the country."

The meeting also approved a constitution for the new organisation, based on one adopted by other Pubwatch schemes throughout the country.

Among its provisions is the association's power to ban troublemakers who have been involved in anti-social behaviour on members' premises.

Bans can now be issued against people suspected of assault, criminal damage, theft, threatening behaviour, drug-taking and drug dealing, threats to police officers or licensing officials, or "indulging in any act contrary to the welfare of a minor".

Any incident of misbehaviour will be noted on an incident report form and the person to be banned will be informed that the association is looking to ban them from their premises.

A committee of association members will meet to consider the length of the ban, which will come into effect immediately.

The banned person will receive a letter which will give the reason for the ban and the length of time they have been excluded.

Bans will be for a minimum of three months and will be reviewed at three-monthly intervals.

Appeals must be received in writing, giving a good reason for the association to reconsider its decision.

The meeting also agreed to introduce a £20 a year membership fee, although it was agreed that premises that employ 20 members of staff or more should pay £40 a year.

The association is also to look at introducing a proof-of-age scheme, but reservations were expressed over the effectiveness of existing schemes.

Some of these had been undermined by the fact that it was now possible to download a fake identity card from the Internet.

Many town pubs already insist on seeing a driving licence or passport as proof of age.

Lloyd Stephens of Wadworth said that the Portman Group, the organisation representing the drinks industry, runs a proof-of-age scheme that would cost the association very little to set up.

The matter was adjourned until the next meeting of the association at Devizes Town Hall on July 5.