SEASIDE resorts such as Weymouth need to go upmarket or die.

That is the stark message from Tourism experts who have warned that the binge-drinking culture could see the town fast turning into a no-go area for family holidays.

The chief executive of clean beach campaigners Blue Flag has called for ciabattas to be sold as well as chips, continental markets set up instead of tacky gift shops and art galleries to open at night, alongside pubs and clubs.

Alan Woods told a meeting of council chiefs from acrosss the country that seaside towns are becoming 'night-time ghettos for the young' and sometimes resemble war zones the morning after the previous night's excesses.

Mr Woods also called on landlords to help clean up the image of seaside towns with a crackdown on excessive boozing and violence.

He added: "Unlike the rest of Europe where even museums open late, Britain's night-time economy is based exclusively around alcohol and while the relaxation of licensing laws has been a big boost for some businesses, it has created massive problems, too.

"Apart from the obvious rise in rowdiness, our streets are suffering the consequences of the night before."

He went on: "Sadly we've reached a point where binge drinking is the norm rather than the exception. It is my belief that to even gain a licence, owners should make sure they've done all they can to crack down on excessive boozing and the violence that goes with it. That might be by training door staff properly or even offering revellers 'chill-out areas' or free drinking water.

"Businesses who are making a mint out of extra opening hours, should also pay an extra levy to clean up mess left on the streets by their customers. They do that in some parts of America - so why not here, too?''

His stance was backed by chief executive of The World Heritage Coast Hospitality Association, Alan Davis, who said: "The feedback we have is that people with younger families have issues with night-time drinkers in certain parts of Weymouth, like the Town Bridge area.

"Some of them are put off when they walk around in the evenings."

Tourism spokesman Lynne Herbert said there was a problem with drunkenness but the council was committed to making Weymouth family-friendly.

She said: "Okay, there is a lot of mess. But our street cleaners are excellent - by the time families come out in the morning, everything is tidy again. We address this by extending police powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and ban people from drinking alcohol on the streets."

Mrs Herbert added: "We get an award every year for our water and beach quality, and that is what we aim for. "You have only to look at the beach in summer to see it's family friendly - it's packed."