PUB bouncers will be carrying out searches of women's handbags this Christmas - to catch credit crunch-busters trying to sneak in their own booze.

Door staff are on red alert for customers trying to save pennies by sneaking in small bottles of spirits and topping up the drinks they actually buy.

And women have been identified as they main offenders - because they don't believe anyone will dare to challenge them.

Pubs and clubs have warned this Christmas is 'make or break' after a year of poor takings caused by the global economic crisis.

They are expecting an extra 150,000 customers over the festive period - and will have a zero-tolerance policy on revellers trying to drink on the cheap.

Security staff will be stepping up their searches at all times of the day, with customers regularly being 'frisked' and asked to open their bags on the door.

Phil Burke, of the Manchester Pub and Club Network, said: "It is make or break for a lot of people this year.

"Business has been slow and this is the boost we need.

"People will be stopped and asked to open their bags and coats because we don't want people providing their own drinks. This is a growing problem because of the economy and the fact supermarkets have so many special offers on alcohol. The little bottles are so cheap.

Worst culprits

"Women have always been the worst culprits because they sneak alcohol in with their bags and think that as women they will not be stopped and searched. But they definitely will."

The police, council and NHS have now teamed up to circulate a leaflet to pubs and clubs around the city warning them of the scam. It also highlights so-called 'pre-loaders' - who cut down their outlay by drinking cheaper alcohol at home before going out for the evening. Such customers are 2.5 times more likely to get into trouble later in the night.

The document tells venues of 'beat-the-credit-crunchers.... trying to sneak their own stash of alcohol (e.g. quarter bottle of vodka)'.

`Remind your door staff to do extra checks, particularly female bags'. The authorities have produced the leaflet as part of a festive drive to ensure responsible and legal drinking.

It includes a call for venue managers to remind staff how to spot 'the signs of drunkenness'.

These are said to range from 'bumping into things' and 'occasional swaying' to 'falling asleep', being 'unable to speak', 'making inappropriate sexual gestures' and being 'very dishevelled [with] sick/urine stains'. A spokesman for the Manchester City Safe partnership said: "The majority of off-licences, pubs and clubs in the city sell alcohol in a responsible manner.

"The purpose of the leaflets is to remind staff of the issues around retailing alcohol and of their responsibility in helping to prevent people from becoming vulnerable through excessive drinking. The leaflets reinforce the fact that serving customers who are already drunk or who are underage is illegal.

"They also remind retailers to be aware that people may have been drinking before they go out and may be trying to bring their own alcohol into pubs and clubs."