A NOVEL plan has been put forward to fix Adelaide's late night crime problem which is affecting tourism in the city.

Due to complaints from late night venue owners, the state government recently backed away from a proposal which would have enforced a 4am-7am closure of 24-hour trading venues - except Adelaide Casino.

Most of problems are in Hindley St and it has impacted on tourism, according to the police website.

William De Lint, professor in criminal justice at Flinders Law School, has proposed that late night bar and club owners should pay a tax on disorderly drunkenness and violence in the city.

Professor De Lint says a tax on the owners will force earlier closure times in an attempt to prevent the unwarranted social behaviour.

"If the price is high enough there won't be any harm because the traders will say they can't afford the amount of cost and be forced to close early," Prof De Lint said.

He also believes the taxpayer should not take responsibility for the price of public intoxication caused by the late night trading venues.

"Polluters are increasingly paying for harm to the environment, so we could work out a similar scheme and calculate a tax on pub and club owners based on social harm," Prof De Lint said.

Originally published as Drunk and disorderly tax proposal