A PUB curfew is an option worth exploring for Ballarat to help curb alcohol-fuelled street violence, local leaders have said.A Newcastle University study found assault rates dropped by a third after a 3am closing time for inner-city Newcastle pubs and clubs was introduced in March 2008.Research published by Associate Professor Kypros Kypri from the university's school of medicine found assaults plummeted by 37 per cent over an 18-month period after the curfew was introduced.Ballarat community safety advisory committee chairman John Fitzgibbon said the results were ''startling'' and any opportunity to reduce alcohol related harm in Ballarat should be looked at.He said a trial 2.30am lock-out agreed to by Ballarat venue owners this year was a step in the right direction.''Because it really needs to be a whole of community response to the problem,'' Mr Fitzgibbon said.''Earlier closing times may be one part of it but I still think a large part of it comes down to personal responsibility.''Mr Fitzgibbon said compulsory changes to closing times were generally the responsibility of the state government.But Ballarat East MLA Geoff Howard said the liquor accord had worked well and a blanket curfew across the state wasn't necessarily the best solution.''I think what we've had operating in Ballarat has been good. If the accord was to fall down there might be reason for the state to step in,'' Mr Howard said.