Alcohol: licensing Late night levy
The late night levy is a power, conferred on licensing authorities by provision in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the 2011 Act. This enables licensing authorities to charge a levy to persons who are licensed to sell alcohol late at night in the authority’s area, as a means of raising a contribution towards the costs of policing the late-night economy. Before implementing a late night levy, the licensing authority must consider the costs of policing and other arrangements for the reduction or prevention of crime and disorder in connection with the supply of alcohol between midnight and 6am, and the desirability of raising revenue via the levy. The licensing authority must consult those who are likely to be affected, including by writing to licensees who may have to pay the proposed levy.
	Presently the levy may only apply to premises selling alcohol and must apply to the whole of the licensing authority’s area, but licensing authorities may choose to apply exemptions and reductions (according to prescribed categories). The licensing authority can decide the ‘late night supply period’ (the times at which the levy is payable), which must begin at or after midnight and end at or before 6am, and must be the same every day.
	The Government committed, in its Modern Crime Prevention Strategy, to improve the late night levy. Section 142 and Schedule 18 are intended to give greater flexibility to local areas by allowing licensing authorities to choose to impose the levy only in certain geographical areas of their licensing area. It also permits licensing authorities to impose a levy on late night refreshment establishments. The police may ask a licensing authority to make a proposal for a levy. This request must be supported by evidence, and both must be published by the licensing authority.