Byron Mayor not a fan of midnight closing

The Byron Mayor says imposing a midnight shut down of licensed venues in Byron Bay would be an admission of failure by the community.

The measure has been proposed by a community group known as '12'.

It was formed after a series of public meetings about alcohol-related violence in the town.

But Simon Richardson says it's not a strategy he supports at this stage.

"If we get to that path it suggests there's been a failure of community and society on a grand scale," he said.

"So I'm not prepared really at this stage to go there.

"I would rather probably have less venues and longer hours than the same amount of venues and shorter hours, if you're going to be a bit punitive about the timing of it."

Source: ABC News, 7 May 2013