Police made a total of 17 arrests during the evening and were forced to close six stations on the Circle Line when high spirits got out of hand.

People are now barred from drinking alcohol on London Underground, buses, Docklands Light Railway and tram services in the capital. It is also illegal to carry opened lager cans on capital's transport network.

The measures were announced earlier this month by new London Mayor Boris Johnson.

In advance of the ban coming in, social networking websites such as Facebook advertised a "last chance" party. But what started as a fun way to usher in the new laws turned sour as thousands of revellers poured into London's Tube stations.

Four train drivers and three other London Underground staff were assaulted during the evening. The tyres of a police vehicle were slashed, two officers assaulted and another was injured amid chaotic scenes.

Superintendent Ellie Bird, of British Transport Police, said: "This was an unfortunate end to what was intended to be a fun event. The arrests were made following sporadic outbreaks of disorder which is very disappointing given the intention of the organisers was that this should not be a disorderly or disruptive event."

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union said that the London mayor should personally apologise to all the members of staff over the mayhem caused.

General Secretary Bob Crow said: "Boris Johnson should apologise personally to all those who were assaulted and abused last night thanks to a half-baked gimmick designed solely as a publicity stunt and without a moment's thought for the people told to implement it.

"We have made it clear that the RMT will support any measure that reduces anti-social behaviour and makes our members' lives safer, but this ban was imposed in haste without consultation with Tube staff. We warned it could put our members at greater risk of assault, but there is no comfort in being proved right when Tube workers have been injured and abused."