THERE are doubts over the future of a 24-hour public drinking ban in Yarra after key issues couldn't be resolved during a “tense” council meeting.

The uncertainty emerged at a Yarra City Council meeting last week when the Greens Party withdrew its support for the law, which has made it illegal to consume alcohol in public places at any time.

Local law eight was implemented last December after Yarra council passed the law by a vote of 8-1. Yarra was the last council in Victoria to implement the law.

At last week’s council meeting, the law was overturned by a vote of 4-3, and instead the ban would apply only between the hours of 9:00pm and 8:59am.

However, the revised ban was placed on hold because two councillors were absent from the meeting. The 24-hour ban remains in place.

The Greens Party reversed its vote at the “tense” meeting because of a report on how local communities have been affected by the law, according to councillor Amanda Stone.

“We had always believed that having a 24-hour drinking ban would have a negative impact on local disadvantaged communities,” Cr Stone said.

“Strong anecdotal evidence has indicated that there has been an immediate and negative impact on some local Indigenous communities, notably the Parkie community (who used to congregate on Smith Street) who have become fragmented."

Local law eight will be debated at the next meeting on April 20.