The new restriction made by Port Phillip council follows a spate of alcohol-fuelled violence and unruly behaviour in the famous recreation precinct.

"We wish it could be different as a 24-hour ban penalises residents who do the right thing, but a new element of violence by a small number of visitors has arrived on our foreshore since we last considered taking this step," mayor Dick Gross said.

"Many members of our community raised deeply-held concerns about the availability of alcohol and expected us to take this step, which was also requested by Victoria Police."

The ban will be annual from now on, running from November 1 to March 31, and replaces an existing 8pm to noon ban.

Mr Gross said the restriction was unlikely to entirely prevent all trouble, saying visitors also need to be willing to do the right thing.

The council says it will spend more than a million dollars this summer on a record number of bins and beach cleans and will implement a total glass ban at beaches and parks.

The measure follows the trashing of a beachside park on Christmas Day last year.

Australian Associated Press