Southampton Venues Face Late-Night Levy

18 September 2014, 07:34

A so-called late-night levy for bars and clubs in Southampton has been approved by councillors.

Venues serving alcohol after midnight will have to pay up to £4,400 a year. The money will go towards the cost of policing, tackling drink-related anti-social behaviour and street clean-up following nights out.

The City Council is one of the first authorities to introduce the levy, following a decision made at a full council meeting yesterday (Wednesday 17 September).

The charges range from £299 a year to £4,400, and are expected to raise £240,000 a year to be split between the police and Southampton City Council. The money will be spent on measures including taxi marshalls, street pastors and the In Case of Emergency (ICE) bus.

The levy will come into effect on 1 April 2015.