If the mayor has his way, the taps will be open almost until sunrise in Beantown.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced last Thursday that he wants to allow downtown hotel bars to remain open until 4 a.m.--two hours later than the current closing time.

If implemented, the mayor said, this plan would help Boston become a "world-class city."

The mayor's announcement has caused a stir among downtown residents.

Residents fear that keeping bars open later will increase crime in their neighborhoods.

In response to these concerns, however, the mayor's office insisted that he is "adamant" about extending hours only for hotel bars and will not allow residential areas to be affected.

This declaration in turn caused consternation among the owners of neighborhood bars, who worry that hotel bars could then take away their business.

However, bartender Paul Barry of the Grafton Street pub in Harvard Square said he doesn't believe any new legislation will affect his bar.