Money will be made available to help make city streets safer over the festive season, it has been announced.
Scottish Government funding of £660,000 will be divided between the country's 32 councils to help them reduce anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence.
The money will fund community safety initiatives, such as high visibility police patrols, enhanced CCTV and late-night taxi marshals.
Community safety minister Fergus Ewing announced the funding as he met police officers and taxi marshals in Edinburgh.
He said: "It is only right at this time of year when people like to go shopping or go out for a meal or a drink that they can do so free from the threat of aggressive or anti-social behaviour.
"The Scottish Government is already taking action to tackle the 'drinking to get drunk' culture in our country through considering bringing in minimum pricing and banning irresponsible promotions.
"This additional funding for all Scotland's local authorities will support community safety projects that seek to reduce violence, particularly alcohol-fuelled violence, and stop the minority spoiling the fun for the rest of us."
Councillor Barbara Grant, community safety spokeswoman for local authority group COSLA, added: "I welcome this additional funding during the festive period as this will help to ensure that our local communities can enjoy this special time of year feeling safer."
Superintendent Mark Williams at Lothian and Borders Police said the money will allow them to put extra resources on the streets.
He said: "At its peak, Christmas in Edinburgh can see over half a million people on the streets of the capital.
"Our objective is simple, to ensure that visitors and residents alike can safely enjoy the festivities in the city centre without being exposed to violence and disorder."
However the announcement led to calls from the Liberal Democrats for such high-profile policing to be in place throughout the year.
Lib Dem justice spokesman Robert Brown MSP said: "The type of high profile policing that we see over the festive period should not be the exception to the rule.”
