Police said they're making changes to this year's St. Patrick's Day parade in hopes of preventing some of the problems from last year.

The parade was plagued last year by public drinking, violence, assaults, overcrowding, and disorderly conduct, officials said. The post South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade will start earlier to help curb drunkenness,

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox encouraged parents of children and teenagers to consider accompanying them to the parade, as unaccompanied young people and underage drinking was a factor in the violence at the parade last year.