Tralee Town Council has stopped short of introducing earlier "special exemption" closing times for pubs, nightclubs and hotels in the town in an attempt to stamp out late-night drink-related public order incidents.
On average 25 late-night drinking events take place in the town each week, it emerged separately.
The council has decided to set up a forum of gardaí, the council, vintners and residents' groups and may again consider shortening special-exemption drinking hours using powers under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2003, along with staggered closing times.
It is also to ask the Department of Justice for backup and for international research material on tackling public order problems.
It emerged yesterday that thousands of late-night special exemption orders are granted by the District Courts in Kerry each year. They allow alcohol to be sold up to 2.30am during functions and dances. A further half-hour is allowed for drinking-up time.
Last year the District Court in Tralee granted 1,400 special exemption orders, while in Killarney some 1,130 were granted, the courts offices confirmed. Orders must specify the place and time of the function, and owners of licensed premises pay €210 for each one.
Under the 2003 Act, local authorities can set earlier closing times for special exemptions, after consultation with the public, the Garda and the courts.
The motion to curtail late-night drinking times was heavily backed by the town's senior garda, the meeting of the town council heard.
At a meeting before Christmas on anti-social problems, gardaí said they felt that staggered or curtailed opening hours would help to tackle some of the problems of binge drinking, said Cllr Miriam McGillycuddy (Lab), proposing the motion.
However, it was "a last step, not a first step" and would be considered among suggestions to stamp out unruly drunken behaviour late at night in the town, Fianna Fáil Cllr Norma Foley said.
"It's important that a town like Tralee takes the initiative. We do it on behalf of other towns, too," she added.
Sinn Féin's Cathal Foley said a minority of publicans were obviously flouting the law in serving drunken persons. However, no publican had yet been before the courts for this offence, he said.