Extra officers are drafted into Cardiff on match days

The measure is expected to be included in a Home Office consultation paper.

Drinking venues would be asked to pay towards the cost of policing the streets on busy nights and for events like sports matches and pop concerts.

Licensees in Cardiff say they have worked to reduce alcohol-related violence and that this is another tax.

The proposal could mean police could raise funds from patrolling special events such as the Cardiff's Big Weekend, which attracted 200,000 recently, and concerts at the Millennium Stadium which can attract around 70,000 visitors.

We need our police officers in the communities and they're not doing that when they're standing on street corners in Cardiff Former Chief Superintendent Gerry Toms

But Nick Newman, vice chairman of Cardiff Licensees Forum, said the industry already contributed around �21bn to the exchequer in taxes and they were against the plan.

"The industry already contributes greatly in the training of staff, training door staff, contributing to the new door supervisor's scheme. I think we're paying a lot already."

"The additional costs of this are ultimately going to be passed on to the customer," said Mr Newman, who is general manager of the Yard bar in Cardiff city centre.

He said pubs and clubs in the Welsh capital had been active in reducing incidents of alcohol-related violence associated with binge drinking.

Smaller venues would be heavily penalised by having to pay, said Mr Newman.

But Gerry Toms, the former chief superintendent of South Wales Police, welcomed the proposal to make licensees contribute to the cost of policing.

Police in the US introduced similar measures around 20 years ago, he said.

'Great initiatives'

Mr Toms said major venues in Cardiff could make around �100,000 in profits on large event days.

"There are some great initiatives in Wales and things are improving," he said.

"But that does not detract from the fact that in south Wales we need our police officers in the communities and they're not doing that when they're standing on street corners in Cardiff."

Asking the pub and hotel trade to contribute towards the policing costs was not an "unreasonable proposal".

"It's not unreasonable to expect someone to contribute to that particularly those who are making the vast money and it is the licensing trade, hotels and restaurants."

The government also wants to give the police greater powers of arrest in its plans being outlined on Thursday ahead of a likely bill in the Queen's speech this autumn.

It means people could be arrested for very minor offences like dropping litter or writing graffiti.