Liquor - The City of Cape Mayor, Patricia de Lille, poured more than 5000 bottles of alcohol confiscated on beaches this holiday season down the drain at an Ndabeni storage area. The 2600 litres of confiscated alcohol were worth R66000. The haul of alcohol included cases of beer, ciders, brandy and champagne. Liquor is banned on all Cape Town beaches, but people persist in taking their alcohol to drink on beaches or other public spaces. Law enforcement officers will patrol the beaches over the festive season to try and curb the consequences of drinking illegally. The public is encouraged to support legal, liquor licensed businesses to enjoy liquor of their choice. (Article by New Age, edited by LiquorWise)

Liquor Licence Holders - Liquor Licence Holders were surprised by an compliance operation by Liquor Board Inspectors, the The South African Police Service and other liquor law enforcement agencies in the Wallacedene and Bloekombos area of Cape Town to investigate whether liquor traders were complying to the conditions of their liquor licences. Several fines were issued for selling liquor from incorrectly zoned parts of premises and for not having working fire extinguishers. The liquor licence holders were also investigated for serving alcohol to minors, selling alcohol for off-consumption with an on-consumption licence, lapsed licences(when not renewed annually) and the violation of trading hours. 1 700 inspections have been carried out in the Western Cape since April 2011. Fines in excess of R120 000 have been issued. Minister Winde expressed his concern about some liquor outlets which had produced home-made brews (fruit ale). According to him, it is sold cheaper than water. He promised that his department will be investigating all ways possible to stop the production and sale of it. "We are enforcing a zero-tolerance approach, and a further 400 raids are planned for the December and January festive period. In addition, law enforcement will keep a close watch on premises that have already been inspected to ensure that non-compliant behaviour has ceased," said Minister Winde. He acknowledged that liquor is an important income and employment generator for our province, but this must be weighed against its harms. If licensed outlets abide by the rules, we'll see a significant drop in the negative effects of alcohol. We encourage them to get their houses in order now. This December and January, we are ramping up inspections in partnership with SAPS, municipal law enforcement and local CPFs around the province to ensure responsible trading and consumption of alcohol. Through these actions, we are making our communities better together." Chairperson of the Western Cape Liquor Board, Mr Raybin Windvogel, explained that a licence is granted based on an agreement between the Liquor Board, the local community and the liquor trader : "We impose conditions for a reason and when sellers don't obey them, the entire community is affected by increased crime, vehicle crashes, domestic violence and general disorder. We need to guard against these highly damaging effects of alcohol by creating a culture of compliance." If liquor outlets have any queries relating to licensing, they can call LiquorWise on 0861059473.

Liquor Licensing Committee - The Mossel Bay Town Council has established a 5 member committee to represent the Municipality when commenting on liquor licence applications. The Town Council is acting in anticipation of the new Western Cape Liquor Act to be implemented in April 2012. The new Western Cape Liquor Act requires that municipalities comment on all liquor licence applications. Ward councillors are also required to comment and will therefore be co-opted on the committee for any application in the councillor's ward. LiquorWise is keeping track of the appointment of these municipal committees and will keep all licence holders up to date of progress in their respective municipal areas. It has long been a concern of LiquorWise that municipalities are not addressing this issue with the urgency it requires. Liquorwise will be communicating with Western Cape Municipalities to encourage the appointment of liquor licence committees and to offer assistance to set up such committees. In terms of the Act, comments must also be obtained from the relevant Ward Councillor. Council has therefore given approval for the Councillor, in whose ward the licenced premises are situated, to be co-opted on the Committee for the application concerned.

Liquor Board - The Western Cape Liquor Conference will be hosted at the Old Mutual Auditorium, Mutual Park, Pinelands on 15 December 2011. LiquorWise will report on matters of interested to licence holders and the general public raised at the conference.

Die Burger berig dat die omstrede konsepvoorstelle oor drankverkope laatnag en op Sondae in die Stellenbosch-omgewing weer bekyk gaan word. Die nuwe DA-beheerde stadsraad van Stellenbosch sal die konsepvoorstelle wat die vorige stadsraad goedgekeur het, ernstig heroorweeg en verwelkom die insette van die gemeenskap daaroor, sê mnr. Conrad Sidego, nuutverkose burgemeester.

Sidego het gister by navraag gesê die stadsraad is baie bewus van die diepe kommer wat voorstelle dat drank nie op Sondae verkoop mag word nie in veral die toerismebedryf veroorsaak.“Ons is deeglik bewus daarvan dat ons ’n toerismedorp in die middel van die wynlande is en hierdie stadsraad sal geen besluit neem wat die dorp, sy beeld of sy inkomste sal skaad nie.

“Daar is geen rede om opgeklits te raak nie – nugtere oorweging sal aan die kwessie gegee word,” het Sidego gesê. Vrese bestaan dat talle restaurante, veral dié op landgoedere, hul deure sal moet sluit as drankverbruik in restaurante in en om Stellenbosch op Sondae verbied word.

’n Plaaslike toerismeorganisasie win trouens reeds regsadvies in oor die kwessie. So ’n “belaglikheid” sou ’n “verleentheid” vir die gebied wees en kan verreikende gevolge hê vir die ekonomie van die gewildste wyngebied van Suid-Afrika, is aan Rapport gesê oor die konsepbesluit.

Die besluit, wat voorlopig geneem is na gelang van die impak van provinsiale wetgewing, sou nie net die verkoop en bedien van wyn op Sondae in restaurante in die dorp en op landgoedere verbied het nie, maar sluit ook ’n verbod op kroeë in om saans ná 23:00 alkohol te verkoop. Die verordening kon in elk geval nie finaal deur die stadsraad aanvaar word voordat die voorgestelde provinsiale konsepwetgewing, die Wes-Kaapse Drankwysigingswetsontwerp, in werking tree nie.

Dié wetsontwerp word tans deur die provinsiale regering hersien. Die aanvaarding van ’n Stellenbosse drank-verordening, soos die vorige stadsraad voorgestel het, sal ’n verlammende invloed op die ekonomie van die gebied hê omdat wyntoerisme 25% van die bruto ekonomiese produk hier uitmaak, sê me. Annareth Bolton, uitvoerende hoof van die toerismeorganisasie Stellenbosch Wynroetes.

Van die land se toprestaurante, wat gereeld die Eat Out-wenlys haal, is in dié gebied geleë.Sondae is van die gewildste kuierdae, sê Bolton. “Dis die dag waarop sowel plaaslike as buitelandse toeriste die wyngebied die graagste besoek om sy kos en wyn te geniet. Dit maak wynplase, restaurante en wynkelders van die grootste werkverskaffers hier.”

Bolton sê Wynroetes is in gesprek met hul regsverteenwoordiger, ’n kenner op die gebied van dranklisensiëring. Volgens mnr. Beyers Truter, eienaar van die landgoed Beyerskloof buite Stellenbosch, sal dit kortsigtig wees om die voorstel van die vorige stadsraad deur te voer en sal dit die restaurant- en toerismemark hier doodmaak.

The Liquor Guide reported the following in its February 2011 newsletter (The heading above is not from the Liquor Guide article but chosen by Liquorwise) : Wherever liquor is available there will also be those who abuse it. Similarly, if there are those who abuse it, there are authorities trying to control the problem and devise a workable solution. The latest proposed measures by the local government do not necessarily provide the best course of action. The 2008 Western Cape Liquor Law Amendment Bill, which comes into force in September, seeks to tighten the regulations making it more difficult to acquire a licence to serve liquor. When commenting on the issue, SAB claimed that this could lead potential buyers to illegal liquor operations and also put a strain on the regulation of the industry. Brandhouse echoed their sentiments, "An inappropriate approach to alcohol may result in growth in black market trade in smuggled and counterfeit beverage alcohol." In Gauteng the obstacles faced by liquor retailers is no different, the local government is looking to ban liquor sales on Sundays. This they say would be in an effort to combat underage drinking. Although the 'solution' is different the results may be similar, with liquor consumers simply bypassing the law by heading to illegal liquor outfits on a Sunday or stocking up before the time. These proposed laws were drawn up with the best of intentions in mind, but also from a subjective perspective. Banning sales on a Sunday will only spawn new problems, as will tighter restrictions. The government, liquor manufacturers and liquor outlets need to come to an agreeable, workable solution. It will not be without compromise, but may be more productive than the constant back-and-forth between the two.  

Calphena Jacobs has been selling liquor for off-premises consumption from her compact, immaculate home in Mitchell's Plain since 1983, but in that time she has had to fork out thousands of rands to the police for selling liquor without a licence. But apart from not having a licence, in those 27 years she has never had trouble with the police or her neighbours. "There's been no noise, no fighting, no drunks, no crime, no disruption to the neighbourhood, nobody has had a problem with us," Jacobs said. And yet for the past three years Jacobs' daughter has been struggling to get a licence for what has become a family business. She is not sure why the provincial government will not give her a liquor licence. "Maybe they're afraid of crime... but I've had no trouble since I started in business." The provincial government is prepared to rezone Jacobs' premises to enable her to run a hairdresser or shop but not for selling liquor. The provincial government's near-refusal to issue licences to currently illegal operators in the Western Cape has resulted in the bizarre situation where the V&A Waterfront has more licensed premises than all of the townships in the Western Cape. The fact that the townships are mainly zoned for residential use is one of the reasons used to justify what looks like a continuation of the apartheid regime attitude, when blacks were prohibited from selling liquor. Industry sources say that the situation is even more bizarre given the national government's desire to encourage small business development. Nonzaliseko Mpinda is one of the lucky ones. After years of operating an unlicensed shebeen, she recently got a licence for her business in Gugulethu. Despite the considerable expense of meeting the licensing requirements - including having two toilets, no matter how small the premises - Mpinda is thrilled to be running a legal business. "Things are much easier now," she said. David Sawula has been licensed for five of the 25 years that he has been running Popza's Place in Gugulethu. And despite now having to pay tax, Sawula says there are enormous benefits to being licensed. "The suppliers are much more supportive, the Department of Trade and Industry helps with business training schemes, it's much easier to deal with the banks...," he said. South African Breweries (SAB), which is encouraging the licensing process with its Zenzele black empowerment scheme, reckons almost 500 of the unlicensed outlets in the province could meet the strict licensing requirements

The Western Cape Shebeen Association (WCSA) has successfully introduced its groundbreaking initiative Restrictive Licensing System (RLS) in the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town. The result has been as reduction of more than 50% in shebeen – related crime. The Souh African Liquor Traders Association(SALTA), through it’s president and CEO, Mr Saint Madlala, has mandated the WCSA to represent its members in all negotiations with role players.

Mr Mauritz Rossouw, the CEO of the WCSA, will meet with executives of major role players in the liquor industry, as well as Premier Helen Zille, before the end of April, to discuss the implementation of the RLS throughout the Western Cape Province. Because of its successful implementation, plans include the implementation of the RLS in other provinces in due course.

Western Cape Premier Zille met with Mauritz Rossouw, president of the Western Cape Shebeen Association(WCSA) and SALTA on Monday evening. The Premier was accompanied by Minister Alan Winde, senior staff of her administration and advisors. The meeting was requested by the WCSA to present a DVD which highlighted the problems shebeens experience because they are not being regulated. Furthermore, to discuss the disastrous financial and social effect on the shebeen industry, which is predicted if the new Western Cape Liquor Act is implemented without interim measures to accommodate the shebeen industry. Zille lamented that 80% of the province’s health budget is spent on alcohol related incidents and blamed the shebeen industry as the greatest cause. Rossouw disputed this and pointed out that only 305 out of a total of more than 7000 licences approved within the past 12 months, were for shebeens. Rossouw argued that the province did not have land available to be used as business zones, where shebeens could be moved to. Furthermore, that the solution was to regulate the industry, as it was foolhardy to think that the industry would “disappear” by the introduction of a Liquor Act which ignored the reality. The WCSA proposed a restrictive licensing system, based on a points system. Licence holders would be penalised for transgressing licence conditions and may have their licences revoked or suspended should they accumulate a certain number of points. Zille undertook to review the provincial government’s stance on the matter and to provide the shebeen associations with a written reply within the next two weeks.