Late Night Levy Criticised for Yielding Low Income
2018
The Late Night Levy fee is imposed by some Licensing Authorities upon Licensed premises operating between 00:00 (Midnight) and 6:00am.
It was projected and promoted as a tool for local authorities, to collect income from Late Operating licensed premises, to deal with the cost of the Night Time economy on the services the authorities provide.
Eight authorities have brought in the Levy, with others deciding to reverse their decision to do so, as previously discussed by us (insert previous cheltenham reversal story). The Home office had initially estimated at least 70 authorities would implement the power.
The recently revealed figures for England and Wales show that the levy has contributed less than £1Million pounds annually, from the eight authorities who have implemented it, namely Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Southampton, Islington, the City of London, Cheltenham,(who have since removed it) Chelmsford and Camden,the total raised by the levy since March 2012 is shown as approximately £3.5 million to March 2017.
As a result, the Levy has once again been criticised, Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Healthcare Alliance, said: “The impact of late-night levies has been hugely disappointing because so few local authorities have chosen to implement them.” Katherine Brown, chief executive of the Insitutute of Alcohol Studies, called the measures “ineffective and under-deployed”.
Many of our clients are effected by the imposition of the Late Night Levy on their premises, we also advise when authorities are considering implementing one in their area. These further comments on the income from areas with the Levy will be of interest to many, including those who have critiqued it in the past, such as Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, who had called for the “punitive new tax” to be abolished.
We will continue to monitor the use of the Late Night Levy for our clients and report any further developments.
If you need any advice in respect of the Late Night Levy upon your premises, please call us on 0114 266 8664.