Tralee Town Council will tonight consider a clampdown on late-night "special exemption" opening by licensed premises in what is believed to be the first such measure by a local authority in Ireland under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003.
The proposal to shorten drinking hours in pubs, clubs and hotels comes amid concern about drink-related public order offences in Tralee and other tourist towns in Kerry.
Last weekend two new year functions including a charity ball in Tralee had to be abandoned early because of drunken violence and disruption. At one function, six people were arrested for public order offences.
The weekly district court in Tralee sometimes deals with up to a dozen drink-related public order allegations arising from incidents on weekend nights.
Exemptions are normally granted by the courts to serve drink up to 1am and 2.30 am for nightclubs, dances and private functions. However, under the 2003 Act, it is open to local authorities to set much earlier closing times for exemptions.
A motion before the town council tonight will ask it to "investigate the possibility of curtailing the opening hours of licensed premises in the town".
Labour councillor Miriam McGillycuddy, a solicitor, one of two proposers of the motion, said it was being brought under section 11 of the 2003 Act, which entitles a town council to set the times of special exemption closing hours in clubs and pubs.
The motion had the backing of local gardaí who felt a curtailment of drinking hours would be a help, she said.
A number of steps are involved in the measure, including public notices detailing the new times, and public and Garda consultation, after which the resolution is passed to the district court office.
Ms McGillycuddy said she felt strongly that the option should be discussed.
Fellow proposer of the motion, Independent councillor Tommy Foley, said Tralee was getting a bad name as a result of the growing amount of public order and anti-social behaviour, much of it drink-related.
If adopted, the idea may also be considered by other tourist towns such as Dingle, Kenmare and Killarney, where there is growing concern about late-night drunken behaviour at weekends.