By Dickon Hooper BBC News, Bristol

Plans for pubs and bars to open longer have been generally welcomed in Bristol - except by the police.

Bristol council says it is unlikely lots of 24-hour drinking dens will open

The national legislation means that, from November, bars can apply to open for up to 24 hours a day, with the aim of curbing binge drinking by removing time constraints.

Alcohol Concern - which believes the legislation is more likely to increase disorder - says one in five men and one in 10 women binge drink at least once a week in the region.

Supporters of the law - including bar managers - are adamant it will mean more staggered closing times which will cut the anti-social behaviour caused by groups of drinkers being turfed out of pubs at the same time.

The city council will take responsibility for granting alcohol licences and is warning that it will get tough with bars that attract its attention for the wrong reasons.

"Extra powers are being given to us to target misbehaviour, and we can now take action swiftly," a spokeswoman said.

There is some concern that longer pub hours might lead to more smoking ASH

"Licences are now attached to the person who applies and to the premises, meaning managers could be banned from running bars if there is trouble."

Residents' objections will also come into play as a reason to deny extended licences.

But Avon and Somerset Police are not enamoured with the plans.

A spokeswoman said the force was following the line taken by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), which said: "We have concerns that this could result in people drinking until later and the night-time economy becoming busier, and that people are more likely to drink more."

Acpo says there will be more drunks, more crime and more police resources needed as a result.

Bars on the waterfront already close at about 0200 at the weekend

The government stopped short of making all pubs pay for the extra policing, but rowdy establishments in designated Alcohol Disorder Zones could be forced to pay.

The cash to manage the change will come from an increase in the cost of a licence to sell alcohol and, according to the council, the savings made in managing anti-social behaviour.

It also predicts a rash of 24-hour drinking dens is unlikely.

"We think a lot of bars will apply, but few will apply the late licence all the time," the spokeswoman for Bristol City Council said.

"We expect to see a positive effect in the end. There is pain to be go through until it starts to work."

The new legislation may also have some unintended consequences.

A spokesman for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said: "There is some concern that longer pub hours might lead to more smoking.

"We are pushing towards legislation to ban smoking in all pubs - but this wouldn't come into effect until 2008, so there would be a long period of crossover."