Yarraville's Terry O'Malley, a William Angliss Institute of TAFE teacher and former nightclub manager, said nightclubs, bars and pubs were not solely responsible for issues of intoxication and anti-social behaviour in the community.

He said they were often an easy target for police, politicians and the public.

"We are in an increasingly violent society. I think alcohol plays a part and therefore licensed venues play a part as well.

"But they are not the entire cause of the problem and therefore they are not the entire solution."

Mr O'Malley wants to see law enforcement, local government and licensed venue operators working together. "We are dealing with broad social issues. It is a community problem, not just a late-night venue problem."

Natalie Round, the manager of Anglers Tavern in Maribyrnong and Waterloo Cup Hotel in Moonee Ponds, said licensed venues took seriously their obligation to protect patrons and staff welfare.

However, she said it was difficult for venue operators and bar staff to judge how much patrons had had to drink before they arrived at the venue.

"They walk in the door and look fine, and all of a sudden the alcohol hits their system.

"We haven't served them, but we are being blamed for serving an intoxicated patron.

"Sometimes people are drug-affected, too.

"They get inside and have two drinks and all of a sudden they are behaving in a way you know they shouldn't be."

Ms Round said security guards regularly had to deal with incidents and occasionally they banned trouble-makers. "Some people go out to harass people or pick fights or settle the score. They come to the venues, they demand things, don't use manners, think it's fine to push into other people. They seem not to have a social conscience. I think that's where a lot of these problems stem from."

Ms Round said licensed venues were often blamed for problems out of their control.

"We might not let people into the venue because they are intoxicated or under-age, and they will hang out outside the venue or a street away.

"All of a sudden, something that is not an issue of ours becomes one because they are in the vicinity of our property."