To mark Cheltenham borough bringing in a late night levy, the Gloucestershire town has had a visit from Home Office minister Norman Baker. It is the second local authority in England and Wales to bring in the power, which allows councils to collect a contribution from late night businesses selling alcohol towards the cost of policing.
Under the Cheltenham scheme, licensed premises selling alcohol between midnight and 6am pay an annual amount to help offset the cost to the taxpayer of the late night economy.
Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker said: “I was pleased to see the work which is taking place in Local Alcohol Action Areas to tackle the problems caused by excessive alcohol use. It is also welcome that businesses benefiting from the buoyant night-time economy in Cheltenham are now helping to pay towards the cost of policing through the late night levy.”
Cheltenham is the second authority to introduce such a levy after Newcastle upon Tyne. Islington has confirmed it will become the first London borough to bring in the power later this year. The Coalition government says that it’s taking a range of action to tackle alcohol-related harm, which is estimated officially to cost society around £21 billion a year.
Baker also visited Hastings and Northampton, which are among 20 Local Alcohol Action Areas in England and Wales.
The pub retail sector however has complained of what the British Beer and Pub Association for instance recently called the financial burden that excessive taxes and regulation place on pubs.
