The Alcohol Arrest Referral Scheme targets people who have committed offences in the city while drunk.

Bail conditions for offenders will now include agreeing to go for counselling.

It involves getting the offender to confront their behaviour and the consequences of it.

'Future alcoholics'

Iqubal Hare, manager of Manchester's community alcohol team, said the scheme is designed to get offenders to recognise the connection between their actions and drink.

Mr Hare told BBC GMR: "We will be using techniques of cognitive behavioural work to help them make that link."

Kevin Mackway-Jones, A&E consultant at Manchester Royal Infirmary, said the scheme can also help to stop people becoming the alcoholics of the future.

"People think it's funny to go out on a Friday and Saturday nights to get drunk and cause trouble.

"But what we need to do is stop them becoming those whose actions lead to their death 20 years later."

Trials of similar schemes in other parts of the UK are said to have reduced alcohol-induced offending rates by up to 50%.