Calls for longer drinking hours in Melb

Melbourne could soon become a city that never sleeps with changes to licensing laws that would see small bars open for longer.

Under the proposed changes, smaller venues who serve both alcohol and food would have their opening hours extended.

It's a stark contrast to Sydney's lockout laws, where venues can't allow patrons inside after 1.30am or serve alcohol after 3am.

They were introduced in 2014 following a number of one-punch deaths and assaults during alcohol-fuelled nights out.

The NSW legislation has come under fire from opponents who say the laws are killing off Sydney's nightlife with venues being forced to close and hundreds of jobs disappearing along with patronage.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says all-night public transport has changed the way Melbourne works at the weekend and extended drinking hours could help it move towards becoming a "real" 24-hour city.

"We need to identify particular venues and target precincts that people understand if they want to have something to eat and a glass of wine late at night, maybe at one in the morning, there are places that cater for that," Mr Doyle told the Herald Sun.

He said a return to 24-hour liquor licences was out of the question.

Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy supports the proposal, saying it could help Melbourne become a truly international city.

While Premier Daniel Andrews isn't in favour of changing the liquor licensing laws he didn't miss an opportunity to stick the boot into Sydney.

"They're pretty well closed after dark," he told reporters on Tuesday.