Liquor Licence Fees (Western Cape) -  Liquor licence fees are to be increased dramatically for licence holders in the Western Cape.   This will be the case if the Western Cape Liquor Regulations are implemented unchanged.   The Liquor Regulations were published in an extraordinary provincial gazette on 21 December 2011.  For example, the lodgement fee for a new liquor licence application will be increased from R200 to R1250.    Annual liquor licence renewal fees will increase from a minimum of R3000 (currently R250) to a maximum of R5000 (currently R1000) per year.

LiquorWise encourages business owners to take advantage of the window period (February and March) to lodge applications.   This will apply to all liquor licence applications, but specifically to the following :

1.  New liquor licence applications;

2.  Changes to the licence holder - This would typically apply to new members of a close corporation, share holders of a company or new partners.

3.  Changes to a licensed premises - This would be required for any structural changes to a premises, for instance -  a new wall, bar area moved or where the premises has been extended(i.e. outdoor area added).

Business owners should Contact LiquorWise without delay to ensure that their applications are lodged at the current lower fees and before the increase of licence fees.