Experts have questioned the effectiveness of so-called "booze ASBOs", which will let authorities ban troublemakers from pubs.
Drinking Banning Orders (DBO), which came into force this week, let police and councils ban individuals from licensed premises or entire town centres. They can last up to two years, with fines of up to £2,500 for breaches. Offenders can cut the length of their DBOs by attending courses to address problems — these cost them £120 to £250.
Home Office minister Alan Campbell said DBOs would force troublemakers to "face up to their destructive behaviour". But Magistrates Association chairman John Thornhill said: "We are not satisfied that these will work as effectively as perhaps some of the ASBOs have.
"If you try banning [offenders] from all the pubs in the town, who is going to tell all the pubs in the town? Many of the supermarkets now have a licence to sell alcohol. It's going to be nonsense."
Derek Allen, executive director of local government co-ordinator LACORS, said DBOs are a "last resort for persistent offenders".
"Councils need the right powers, flexibility and funding to design solutions to deal with disorder from drunken people early in the process, hopefully avoiding the need for 'drinking ASBOs'."
Guidance on DBOs says: "Licensees should be encouraged to play their part in upholding DBOs as it is in their interests to do so." It says hosts shouldn't let anyone with a DBO enter, and if they have, they should refuse to serve them and call police.
Authorities should tell the licensee when someone is issued with an order for their venue. The information should be shared by local pubwatches or similar groups. Pubwatch members can support applications for DBOs by making statements.
National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker urged police and authorities to work closely with licensees when handing out the orders, for example, by sharing photos of troublemakers.
There are "no restrictions" on police in sharing pictures of recipients if it helps enforce DBOs.