DRUNK revellers who use the SOS Bus will be told to dob in nightspots which have continued to serve them booze even though they have had enough.

At the moment, staff do not ask people who attend the bus - which cares for people who have had too much alcohol - where they last had a drink.

But Mike Lilley (Lab), Colchester councillor responsible for licensing and public safety, told the authority’s crime and disorder committee the time had come to name and shame rogue venues which either serve drunk people or allow people to drink a large amount early in the night.

He said: “At the SOS Bus people will now be asked: ‘Where have you been drinking?’

“We want to know where because if someone is in a state and needs attention at the SOS Bus or even ends up in A&E, then it costs public money.

“We want to take action on the places which are consistently serving people who are clearly intoxicated.”

He added: “Sometimes it won’t be the fault of the last venue and the person has spent a large amount of time in another bar earlier in the night and that will be where the damage is done.

“We don’t just want to know the last place, we want to know where they’ve spent time since they went out.”

Once a specific venue has a number of reports attached to it, its owners would be invited to a meeting with the council enforcement team and Essex Police.

Tougher sanctions, such as fines and licence reviews, could follow if an improvement is not shown.

Mr Lilley added although the town’s night time economy has improved since he began being involved in licensing in 2008, more still needs to be done.

He said: “The town has changed an awful lot.

“In 2008 it was really quite bad but now it has changed.

“We are all working together and things are much better.

“But we will still take action against clubs and bars which are serving people who are too intoxicated to cope.

“We want bars and clubs in the town to do well because they are businesses and they add to the town but we just want people to behave responsibly.”

Although the bus is only deployed on Fridays and Saturdays, it was also confirmed the services will be available in High Street on ‘A-Level Thursday’, which sees thousands of youngsters descending on the town after picking up their results.

A report which went to councillors on Tuesday night stated: “This date has been identified as critical due to the increased number of young people in the town.”

It will cost £586.