Wollongong councillor Ann Martin will use a notion of motion at next Monday's meeting to urge council to investigate the establishment of such a zone on Lake Avenue, between Birmingham and Bethlehem Streets.

Ms Martin said she has been approached by community members, concerned over regular street drinking outside a local bottle shop.

"Council has been working with the Cringila community for some months on a new playground, and during discussions this issue of street drinking has come up on many occasions," she said.

"Often during the day there's groups of people drinking, even setting up a table, and it's very intimidating for the residents - including children - to walk past. As a result many are avoiding that stretch of footpath.

"We've spoken with police, but they are limited in how they can respond unless an alcohol-free zone is declared by council."

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A community member, who did not want to be named, said she was glad council and authorities were taking their concerns seriously.

"As soon as the bottle shop opens there's a gathering of men who drink there," she said. "I'm a grown woman and I feel intimated by their language and behaviour, so I can only imagine how the school children who have to walk past feel."

Lake Illawarra Police District licensing supervisor Sergeant Gary Keevers said after being notified of the community concerns, licensing police had stepped up patrols of the area.

Last Friday afternoon, police arrested a 37-year-old Cringila man after an incident outside Super Cellars. The man was later charged with violent disorder and will appear before Port Kembla court in September.

"There is no legislation in NSW to prevent people drinking in the street," Sgt Keevers said.

"But while we have no power to move them on under the Liquor Act, we can move them on for intimidation, offensive conduct or language, or other offences under different legislation.

"We are aware of concerns about the street drinking in this area of Cringila, and after monitoring the area - and last week's incident - we would certainly support any application from council for an alcohol-free zone."

There's already several alcohol-free zones in the region, including a section of Northcliffe Drv at Berkeley; Railway St, Corrimal and along Cliff Rd and Marine Drv, Wollongong.

"These zones provide police with a very important tool to police the consumption of alcohol in areas where it's obviously creating harm to the peace and good order of the neighbourhood," Sgt Keevers said.