New Breathalyzer tested in Western Cape

Breathalyzer - A new breathalyzer device will be tested in the Western Cape over the next 3 months.  This follows previous devices which were found by the High Court to be inaccurate. The idea is that the device will not be used as the final proof of intoxication - it is used to show if a driver may be above the legal limit.  If it indicates a driver may be above the legal limit, the driver is taken to a facility where a proper blood test is conducted.   A driver may be fined or sentenced to jail if the blood test confirms the driver is over the legal limit.   Traffic authorities confirmed that the device may potentially be used on a national basis, if it is found to be successful in the Western Cape. 

What is the limit?  Roughly two beers or two glasses of wine should put a driver at risk of being over the legal limit.   Drivers should therefore be careful not to put the licences at risk buy driving under the influence of alcohol.   

Western Cape Schools may be licensed to sell liquor

Liquor - The WC Cabinet has approved changes to the WC Schools Act ("Act") to allow the sale and consumption of liquor on school premises.    Schools will have to apply to the HOD ("Head of Education") for approval and the HOD will authorise a governing body to allow the sale of liquor.   This will allow fund-raising functions to be licensed to sell liquor on school premises, which raises much needed revenue for most schools to use to the advantage of their learners.   It was nearly impossible to obtain a liquor licence for such functions under the current Act. 

The Draft Bill will now be published for final comments, following which it will be introduced to parliament for discussion, approval and implementation.

New Liquor Act for North West Province

North West Liquor Law - The new liquor Act for the North West Province was published in the provincial gazette on 21 June 2017.  Click HERE and tell us which information you would like to receive on the new Liquor Act - such as new trading hours?  Some of the new provisions contained in the North West Liquor Act are :

• Licence holders must convert their current licences within 3 years
• Increase in fees
• New types of licences
• Amnesty period of 24 months for blacks who operate illegal liquor outlets from their homes

It is a complete overhaul of the old Liquor Act of 1989 and will be implemented on a date which is yet to be announced.   Current and potential liquor licence holders should take note of the new licensing provisions - if not, current liquor licence holders may end up with invalid licences. 

We will be updated liquor licence holders in the North West Province over the next few weeks in more detail about the new North West Liquor Act. 

New Liquor Regulations for Western Cape from 1 July 2017

Liquor Laws - The new liquor regulations for the Western Cape will be implemented from 1 July 2017.   It was published in the provincial gazette on Wednesday (31 May).    The most important changes relate to a number of areas involving liquor licence holders, such as the following :

• Financial - Increased application Fees and Annual Licence Renewal Fees
• Compliance - Increased Fines (up from R20 000 to R100 000)
• Enforcement - Increased powers to SAP 
• Applications - More documents & information
• Application period - Earlier lodgement of applications required

Please Contact Us or comment on our Facebook Page for more information on the details of the new Regulations and how it will affect liquor licence holders and the general public of the Western Cape.

Good News for Liquor Licence Holders in South Africa

Liquor Licence - Good news for liquor licence holders is that SAB (now InBev) is to invest $150m in South Africa.   The world’s largest beer producer will bring Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois beer to Africa – via South Africa.   This will increase the number of liquor products which liquor licence holders can offer to the public.   

It should also benefit the beer drinking public as they will be paying less for these beers, which have been imported to date.   This is part of InBev’s campaign to bring low alcohol products to the African market.  On the other hand, one can expect that the growing market of craft beer lovers will pull up their noses at low alcohol beers, such as Budweiser.   One such afficionado described it as follows : "Safer to drink than water in some instances, but that’s about all it’s good for".  There's only one way to know and that's by supporting your local liquor licence outlet and trying it out! 

(Article by LiquorWise, sourced from http://www.fastmoving.co.za)

Liquor Licence Holders in Hospitality Industry

Liquor Laws - The much criticised Liquor Amendment Bill has come under fire again, this time from the hospitality industry.   The thousands of concerned liquor licence holders in the hospitality industry will be pleased by the recent comments of the Fedhasa CEO.   He used words like “unfavourable”, “we need answers”, “un -pragmatic”, “not well thought-out” and “The passing of this bill, as it stands will be monumentally disruptive to the industry”.

The Bill is rumoured to be on the Agenda of the Cabinet’s meeting in August. 

Please watch this space for our next article on this very important proposed liquor law.

(From Bizcommunity Article – 17 May 2017). 

Liquor Global Stats - Surprising

Liquor - Liquor statistics for global markets surprised a lot of people.   We compiled a selection for our South African readers below.   A lot more is available on request.

• China - remains the world’s largest alcoholic liquor market in the world, nearly twice that of the USA.  
• South East Asian - the fastest growing liquor market in the world.
• Europe - features 9 out of the top 10 countries for liquor consumption per person
• Stout  -  is the fastest growing type of beer globally with SA the 6^th largest (our only top 10 position)
• Wine  - market is growing again after 5 years. 
• Gin – Phillipines leads the world, followed by the USA and Nigeria
• Vodka – Since 2002, Russian consumption has halved, while US consumption has doubled - surprised?

Contact LiquorWise for liquor statistics.  If we don’t have it, we’ll find it!

(From a www.bizcommunity.com article – 15 May 2017)