Drinkers are given two ID choices

The initiative is designed to help further reduce antisocial behaviour

Anyone who looks under the age of 21 trying to buy alcohol in Newquay will only be allowed to use two forms of identification to prove their age.

Retailers will only accept a passport or photocard driving licence under the Challenge 21 scheme backed by police, councillors and partner agencies.

The initiative is designed to try to reduce alcohol sales to minors and anti-social behaviour, police said.

Driving licences can be provisional or full. The scheme starts on 1 December.

'Big step forward'

Challenge 21 will be adopted by all members of the Newquay Association of Licensed Premises and also supported by Newquay's Offwatch, which consists of all off licenses in the town, and by all surf lodges licensed to sell alcohol.

Some establishments said they planned to extend ID checks and introduce a Challenge 25 scheme.

In June and July 2009 two young men died after falling off cliffs in the town. The police put both deaths down to alcohol.

Insp Dave Meredith of Devon and Cornwall Police said allowing only only two forms of identification was a "big step forward".

He said: "It is an excellent example of partnership work and really shows that the police, Cornwall Council and local licensees are stood shoulder to shoulder in a collective effort to address the town's problems and make peoples lives better and safer."

The Newquay Association of Licensed Premises said it was happy to send out a positive and coherent message to our customers "which in turn will benefit everyone in Newquay".