Locals fear that the Emirates Air Line could be transformed into a booze cruise across the Thames as Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has applied for a licence to serve alcohol.

Passengers could soon enjoy a beverage on board the cable cars or attend events at the Greenwich and Royal Docks terminals.

If successful, this would follow in the footsteps of other London attractions including the London Eye and the View from the Shard platform, where visitors sip champagne while looking over the capital’s skyline.

The plans would also allow the cable car, which connects Greenwich Peninsula with Newham, to host parties that could include performances by vaudeville acts, jugglers, magicians or musicians.

The licence would be valid from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1.30pm, with a special extension for New Year’s Eve from 1.30am until 5am.

The hope is that this will boost business, as figures show that the number of passengers for the week starting July 2 this year was 26,103.

This pales in comparison to 66,112 in the first week of July in 2012.

Resident Max Ferrin voiced his objections to the application, saying that the change would contribute to the "degeneration not regeneration" of the neighbourhood, amid fears that drunken revellers will pour into the area.

London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon told News Shopper the plans defeat the object of the Air Line’s initial construction.

She said: “It seems that those running the cable car have the vision to run it like an expensive West End night club experience.

“Instead of providing some expensive tickets involving glasses of champagne for a few people the cable car should be run for the many as an affordable form of transport across the Thames.

MORE TOP STORIES

"The Thames cable car was in large part funded by the taxpayer and its original purpose was to ensure daily trips across the Thames could be made by the widest range of people.

"It is time the Mayor of London finally got to grips with these issues and‎ decided what the future of the cable car really is."

The Metropolitan Police have objected to the application unless a number of conditions are agreed to, including using CCTV to monitor activity and not serving beer or cider over 6.5%.

Greenwich Trading Standards and Newham Council’s Licensing Authority have also objected.

Greenwich Council will be making a decision on the application on September 5.