On Wednesday night Port Phillip council will again be debating the merits of greater alcohol restrictions on the St Kilda foreshore.

Councillors are being requested by some local foreshore traders to introduce a 24/7 alcohol ban on St Kilda’s beaches and foreshore parks, while other local traders are urging the council not to take the step, fearing the loss of the St Kilda "vibe" that for over a century has made it unique among Melbourne’s suburbs.

The aftermath of a December 2 brawl that broke out on the St Kilda foreshore. Credit:Seven News

Local residents are equally split between the two positions. Should St Kilda residents be made to forgo the act of enjoying a beer, or a glass of wine, watching the sun set over the water, in order to address the anti-social behaviour that has occurred over the past few weeks on the St Kilda foreshore?

This St Kilda "vibe" has, according to some, been slowly eroded by actions such as previous alcohol bans on the foreshore, constraints on the operation of local live music venues, and the loss of local institutions such as the Palace Nightclub, the Greyhound Hotel, or the recent three-year closure of the now reopened Esplanade Hotel.