MALVERN College headmaster Hugh Carson has condemned new licensing laws that make it impossible to run sixth-form bars in boarding schools.

He says the regime, due to come in force in August, may tempt pupils to sneak off to the pub.

Like many boarding schools, both state and private, the college has a bar where sixth formers, even those under 18, can legally drink wine and beer under supervision.

"We're trying to encourage sensible attitudes to alcohol among our young people," said Mr Carson.

But the new rules will forbid the school from serving beer or wine to sixth-formers under 18.

"I would have no problem with it if I could be certain that the pubs were in a position to enforce it as effectively as we can, knowing the age of individual pupils as we do, but they are not."

He said that although the college is strict about letting students out in town, especially on Saturday nights, he knows there will be some who will be tempted to sneak out to local pubs.

"This will in turn give the police and keepers of licensed premises an impossible task," he said.