A SUBURBAN pub's application to serve alcohol as early as 8am, seven days a week has outraged community groups.

Cairns' Edge Hill Tavern has applied to the Queensland Liquor Licensing Division to change its opening time from 10am to 8am. "That's breakfast time," an angry Cairns Salvation Army Cpt Hector Cirsostomo told The Cairns Post.

"If you give people with a problem that avenue to go and drink earlier, they will go (and get) drunk earlier in the day which is terrible, it's an awful thing," he said.

Several government health workers said they were outraged that pubs would prey on problem gamblers and drinkers by offering them more opportunities to feed their habits.

Edge Hill Tavern staff were unable to talk to The Cairns Post but the manager said they he had been told by the pub's owner that they would be applying for the longer trading hours last week.

The owners of the Pease St pub, Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group did not respond calls.

Two other Cairns pubs are already licensed to trade at 8am: the Cock and Bull and the Courthouse hotel, while the bar of the Acacia Court hotel at Edge Hill is allowed to open at 7am.

A Queensland Liquor Licensing Division spokeswoman said while venues were free to apply for early starts, new reforms before Parliament could soon put a stop to the selling of alcohol before 10am.

"Once the reforms that are before Parliament come in, it could be banned across the board, except for special functions," she said.

The State Government is seeking public and industry comment on the reforms.

The overhaul, started in April 2007, could signal the end of early morning drinking and gambling with a return to the old 10am opening if passed.

But the very thought of heading to the pub as early as 8am disgusted some Cairns residents.

"Come on, that's a bit early. I don't need to drink that early," Toni, from Cairns North said.

"I don't think I've ever needed a beer that early," Johnny told The Cairns Post.