CHICAGO HEIGHTS Late-night drinkers will have fewer options for last call in Chicago Heights, as the City Council voted unanimously last month to reduce the number of 4 a.m. liquor licenses from 10 to seven.

The number of licenses allowing businesses to sell liquor until 4 a.m. once stood at 15, but has been reduced twice since Mayor Anthony DeLuca took office in 2003.

"We have found that the police calls at the 4 a.m. establishments between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., that there is a dramatic increase," DeLuca said.

The three licenses that were eliminated were once held by the Crossroads Event Center, Reflections and the Esoteric nightclub. All three businesses had closed.

The seven businesses that currently hold 4 a.m. licenses were grandfathered in, and DeLuca would look to eliminate those licenses if they should cease operations.

Tavern licenses that can now be granted in the city allow establishments to serve liquor until 2 a.m.

"We're trying to discourage anyone else from going into the late-night liquor business," 4th Ward Alderman Joe Faso said.

"Most of our trouble comes from people outside of Chicago Heights. What we're doing is staying open late for outsiders to come here and cause most of our trouble. If we can eliminate that, I think it's better for our police department and for the overall safety of our community."