Bars and clubs in one north London borough could be hit with a late-night alcohol sales tax, in an effort to curb the problems of binge drinking.

The late-night alcohol levy that Islington Council is considering slapping on licensed premises would help towards costs the borough has to shell out on in policing intoxicated revellers and cleaning up the mess they leave behind, reports BBC News.

The borough could be the first to make use of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 which enables local councils to seek a contribution from late-night watering holes.

Smaller premises could have to fork out an extra £300 a year, while it could be as much as £3,300 for the biggest venues to sell alcohol between the hours of midnight and 6am.

Cllr Paul Convery, Islington Council's executive member for community safety said: 'We're on the side of residents who have told us that they are fed up of living with alcohol-related disruption on our streets. In Islington we've got more licensed late-night establishments per head of population than almost anywhere else in London. This means that there are substantial costs to the council in regulating premises - especially around Angel, Clerkenwell and Old Street - as well as managing the after effects, like cleaning up.

'We've got to find a way of meeting the costs of this and so we'll be including our commitment to adopting the late night levy in our new licensing policy.

Currently in consultation stage, the proposal is one of a number of options being considered by Islington Council.