DRINKERS in a North-East city faced pub door breath tests for the first time tonight (Wednesday, April 22), as a river safety drive stepped up another gear.

Revellers faced being asked to take a breath test before being admitted to six pubs in Durham city centre.

During a 12-week pilot, door staff will be free to turn drinkers away if they are more than twice the drink drive limit, which in England is currently 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

The crackdown comes after three Durham University students, Sope Peters, Luke Pearce and Euan Coulthard, drowned in the River Wear within 15 months and several dramatic rescues.

Police said reckless drinking was a factor in all three deaths.

Terry Collins, chair of the City Safety Group, said: “Whilst we appreciate this pilot is of significant public interest I would also like to make the point that it is just one of a wide range of measures we have introduced.

“We are working with the licensed trade and all our safety group partners to ensure our city stays safe, but I would reiterate that ultimately responsibility for how much you drink lies with the individual.”

The pilot is running at The John Duck, The Fighting Cocks, Whisky River, Jimmy Allens, Wiff Waff and Loveshack.

Safety chiefs say they chose the six venues to get a range of well-used pubs and clubs and all premises asked signed up to the trial.

Mr Collins praised the response of pubs and clubs across the city to the tragedies.

Since 19-year-old law student Euan Coulthard died in January, the City Safety Group has introduced a number of measures including a safe haven, or so-called drunk tank; improved nightbus and taxi services; and a student-led riverside angels support scheme.

Last week, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) published its independent review of river safety in Durham, saying fencing off the Wear would be expensive and ineffective.

Mr Collins said in response he and colleagues had visited the riverbanks on Friday (April 17) and come up with some new proposals and they would be put to the Safety Group tomorrow (Thursday).

Thirty breathalysers have been bought and door staff have been trained in using the equipment, which is already used in Birmingham, Norwich and areas of London.