Police have warned that the number of licensed premises in the town centre has reached saturation point.
In particular, they have concerns about Golden Square which they say is a 'hotspot' for alcohol related incidents and crimes.
Beth Hall, Northumberland area command licensing co-ordinator, said: "Golden Square continues to experience alcohol related anti-social behaviour incidents and consideration must be given to the severity of a violent, alcohol related incident which began inside Cashmere on January 18 and culminated in manslaughter.
"This is in addition to an incident which resulted in the serious assault of two police officers who attempted to break up a fight in Golden Square."
Berwick features 43rd in a national list of binge drinking areas and police analysis has revealed that Golden Square has by far the highest number of alcohol related incidents in the town.
During the two year period up to the end of 2007, there were 234 anti-social behaviour incidents in Golden Square, of which 47 were linked to alcohol.
Ms Hall said: "It has the highest number of such incidents and crimes within the entire Berwick sector and peak times for disorder and crime also coincide with the peak times for alcohol consumption.
"This would suggest that the high concentration of pubs and clubs is having an influence on crime and disorder figures," she added.
Berwick Borough Council has now been called on to introduce a cumulative impact licensing policy which covers an area from the quayside to the railway station and includes Golden Square, Marygate, Castlegate and Hide Hill.
The proposed policy would normally result in the refusal of new licence applications if relevant representations are made.
Essentially, the burden of proof is transferred from the objector to the applicant.
Each new premises application would have to address the cumulative impact policy in their operating schedules in order to rebut the presumption that it will automatically have a negative impact on the area.
As a result of the police evidence, the council has accepted a 'prima facia' need for a cumulative impact licensing policy and licensing manager, David Wilson, will authorise a three month public consultation on the proposals.
These comments will be reported to licensing committee in November with a final decision being made by the full council in December.
However, the proposal has already attracted opposition from one Berwick councillor who warned it could ruin hopes of creating a strong evening economy in the town.
Coun David Stewart said: "This could impact on attempts to regenerate the evening economy as part of the broader regeneration of the town.
"If we had an applicant wanting a licence to open in the evening, would we not welcome it as part of the offer available in the town?"
At one time there were dozens more pubs and bars in Berwick town centre than there are today, added Coun Stewart.
"It may be that an applicant feels the demand is there and wants to open a pub or bar and if they want to do that they should not be handicapped by this cumulative impact policy," he said.