Party time on the Tube before drink ban begins

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From Sunday, it will be illegal to drink on the Tube and Docklands Light Railway, or any buses or trams operated by Transport for London. The Mayor hopes to reduce antisocial behaviour and violence, and make journeys more pleasant for passengers.

But the move is not going through without a fight, with several groups opposed to the ban vowing to converge on the Underground tomorrow. With the prospect of the Circle line becoming a day-long party, extra police will be on patrol. Several thousand people have signed up to groups on Facebook. On "Circle Line Party - Last Day of Drinking on the Tube" they vow to celebrate "our freedom to drink", adding: "We need to make this big, so spread the word and we'll 'flash-mob' the Tube."

Another group, "One Final Tube Booze Party", plans to set off from Liverpool Street at noon. The site states: "I believe we should take over a Circle line train and go around getting drunk all day just to say, 'Up yours Boris, you party animal!'" At last count the group had 2,700 members - enough, they say, to take over three trains.

Superintendent Ellie Bird of British Transport Police said: "We will have an increased number of officers deployed for a number of events on Saturday. Officers will engage with people who drink alcohol on the Tube and let them know that it is no longer permitted."

Under the ban - one of Mr Johnson's key manifesto pledges - anyone with an open bottle or can of alcohol can be asked to leave by a member of Transport for London staff or a police officer. Next year a new by-law will be passed making it a criminal offence.

Mainline services are not affected - although London Overground services are due to be included in the new regime within a few weeks.

A number of cities have already banned drinking on public transport. Alcohol is prohibited on Newcastle's Metro. A ban has long been enforced on the New York subway - but when an attempt was made to extend it to trains heading to Long Island, passengers rebelled, keen to protect their "cocktail hour". The authorities climbed down.