Bar/Club closing times - should they be extended?

While reading through the "What should our next referendum be on?" thread here in AH, someone made the fantastic point on the currently ridiculous closing hours of Irish bars and clubs.

Currently, it hits 2.30am - and all of a sudden, there are thousands of drunk people landed on the street at the same time; and the brawl for chips, batter solliges and taxi's begin. First off, I'd like to ask WHO THE ****TING **** ever thought it could possibly be a good idea to take thousands of drunks, and send them off to the same place, at the same time, all to obtain things in limited supply?

Anyone here with any experience in a country without closing hours (The canaries etc) will tell you for a fact that getting home is an easier ordeal in a massive way - you're not wading through crowds of people, or queuing an hour for your guarantee of a sick tum and a healthy dose of the ****s in the morning. There's also just a much friendly and paced atmosphere - most nights in Lanzarote I went at a considerably slower pace than I would here, since I knew I wasn't under any pressure to get home for myself.

Now, a lot of people always pose the argument; but Mister 'Lox! Think of how drunk people will be if they can stay out all night! The country would descend to Mayhem!

I would argue this to the ends of the earth. People are going to get as drunk as they're going to get, regardless of the timeframe. People either know when to stop drinking, or they drink until they puke. If there were later opening hours, I myself would just start drinking later; I'd much prefer to head out around 12 or 1, and maybe finish up around 4 or 5. Having opening hours extended does not mean my drinking capacity would proportionally rise.

So, we've got the pro's;

1) Not sending every drunken lunatic onto the street at the same time heading for the same places; avoiding the usual drunken arguments.
2) Not holding up every town/city centre in the country for a good hour due to the above mentioned crowds.
3) Not putting such a strain on Gardaí, Hospital Staff, and chipper workers - due to not having to deal with thousands of people at one time.
4) More working hours available for Pub/Club/Chipper/Security/DJ etc etc staff
5) More people going out in general - those stuck working late into the night would feel more inclined to head out if they weren't being sent home shortly afterwards. In short; more money being spent.

Then there's the "maybe" (unprovable) pro's, such as less public disorder/less pissing in the streets etc etc.

Cons;
1) Still have to deal with the roaring and shouting going home crowds, but sporadically across the course of the entire night - instead of dealing with it all at once. Could be a bit nightmarish for those living in town and lacking decent soundproofing.
2) Some bars may not attract enough business to justify all-night hours; and lose further customers due to earlier closing hours.

And I'm sure someone else will point out a few more for both cases.

I would be of the firm opinion that longer opening hours would lead to a much more pleasant atmosphere around town, less strain on Gardaí/Hospital staff, along with pumping more money into our economy. Needless to say, I'd be willing to pay a few cent extra for a pint after the traditional closing hours.

What say ye, boardsies?