A controversial ban on drinking alcohol on the St Kilda foreshore will not be extended after Port Phillip councillors debated the issue for hours at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Local council officers lost their bid for a ban on the consumption of alcohol from November 1 to March 31 each year to curtail violence and alcohol-fuelled misbehaviour in the area.

People will be allowed to drink on the St Kilda foreshore every day from noon to 8pm except for December 24 to 26, December 30 to January 2 and Australia Day.

The state of St Kilda beach after Christmas parties last year. Credit:Joe Armao

In February, Port Phillip Council extended a 24-hour alcohol and glass ban for the St Kilda foreshore from February 15 to April 3. The extension followed the initial ban, which was implemented after the Christmas Day 2017 “trashing” of South Beach Reserve, the council said.