NEW powers on banning alcohol sales after midnight are due to be considered by South Bucks District Council next week.

SBDC’s Licensing Committee will consider policy changes including the ability to place Early Morning Restriction Orders (EMROs) on all or part of the district.

EMROs restrict the sale of alcohol in pubs, clubs, bars and off-licenses between midnight and 6am, in a bid to improve specific "problem areas".

Councillors will also consider Late Night Levy powers, which allow authorities to collect a fee from alcohol sellers to go towards policing the streets late at night.

The British Beer and Pub Assocation, the UK’s largest trade group for the drinks and hospitality industries, is warning councils not to adopt the measures.

Spokesman Neil Williams said: "We don’t support plans for Late Night Levies or EMROs.

"A levy has the potential to damage the hospitality industry, on which a lot of jobs depend, especially if the council opts for a punitive level.

"It is also unfair, as many pubs would have to pay, even if they don’t cause any problems. "

"Local authorities also do have to think very carefully about the effects of introducing an EMRO. Are they transferring a problem from their town centre to somewhere else? How will it affect local employment?

"The council should be focusing on cutting red tape for small businesses like pubs, which face increasing pressures, at a time when more and more alcohol is drunk at home."

The proposed policy states there are no current plans to enforce an EMRO or Late Night Levy in any part of South Bucks, but that the situation would be regularly reviewed.

It also says any use of the powers must be based on evidence from bodies including Community Safety Partnerships.

If councillors agree to adopt the changes, the revised policy will go up for public consultation between July and September, with the final decision being made by November.