Because of the worsening peace and order situation in Panama City Beach during the spring break caused by excessive alcohol consumption during parties, the City Council had an emergency meeting on Saturday.

The council sought a solution to the situation that had worsened over the years that Councilman Keith Curry suggested a ban on alcohol consumption on the beach and to have an earlier cut off on alcohol sales to midnight, reports the New York Times.

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Curry's measures were rejected since the beach parties are a major economic force in the region. But the council agreed to allocate another $200,000 for more police patrol in the area.

For years, Panama City Beach officials, police and business have been at odds how to address the spring break parties that often end in trouble. The last straw was over the weekend when a man went on a shooting rampage and injured seven people in a party, sending them to the hospital.

The suspect, David Daniels, 22, was charged with seven counts of attempted murder and is detained at the Bay County Jail instead of paying a $575,000 bond.

Sheriff Frank McKeithen stressed, "This is what we've been trying to warn people about. It was only a matter of time ... until it happens again, if we don't address it." He pushed for the beach alcohol ban and midnight last call in 2014, but the council only rolled back the last call to 2 a.m. from 4 a.m.

Curry, who joined police patrol in recent weeks, said it was a mistake on the part of the council not to heed the sheriff's warning. He said after witnessing drug arrest for heroin, increasing use of a drug called Molly and the number of confiscated weapons, the measures in place are woefully inadequate.

Tagspanama city, Panama City Beach, alcohol, spring break, shooting