Drinkers will not be banned from taking alcohol on to Brighton beach as long as they do not cause trouble, the city council announced today.

A crackdown on street drinkers, likely to be in force by the end of July, will not target people enjoying the odd pint by the sea.

A report due to go before the council's policy committee on June 18 recommends the restriction should apply across the city.

Council officers had considered banning street drinking only in certain trouble spots or the central policing area of the Brighton and Hove.

Now they believe this could displace drinkers to other parts of the city so they have decided a ban should be more widespread.

However, the council today said it would target only those whose drinking was leading to antisocial behaviour.

Coun Gill Mitchell, who is in charge of public safety, said: "We will target only drinkers likely to cause alarm or offend others. We have no intention of targeting people on the beach or in parks such as families having a picnic.

"Of course, people drinking at tables outside restaurants or pubs won't be included either."

The report says there are about 30 hardened drinkers on the streets who cause problems around St Peter's Church, Norfolk Square, Upper Rock Gardens and Madeira Terrace.

Coun Mitchell said: "Although it is relatively few people, it's likely to grow during the summer.

"It's getting to the stage where this small number of people are starting to seriously affect people's perceptions of the city and residents' quality of life.

"This is very bad for business and we need to act to protect people's jobs and make residents and visitors feel safer."

The ban, which is expected to be implemented next month if approved by councillors next week, would allow police to confiscate alcohol and arrest anyone who resists.

Chief Superintendent Paul Curtis said: "We have liaised closely with the council over a possible city-wide ban on street drinking. We support the approach taken by the council."

Colin Millham, chairman of the Sussex Society of Licensed Victuallers, said he hoped it proved more successful than the ban already in place in Kemp Town.

Mr Millham, who runs the King's Arms in George Street, said: "It has not been enforced here at all. If it is imposed on the whole of Brighton, it could be even more of a failure."