Tuesday 8 September 2015

Western Cape Liquor Amendment Bill - Public to comment

Liquor Law - The public have the opportunity to comment on the the Western Cape Liquor Amendment Bill at publice meetings at the following venues and times :

George - 8 September 2015 (09:00 – 13:00) at George Town Hall, 71 York Street, George

Robertson - 9 September 2015 (11:00 – 16:00) at Robertson Town Hall, 52 Church Street, Robertson

Cape Town - 11 September 2015 (09:00 – 13:00) at The Chamber, 6th Floor, 7 Wale Street, Cape Town

For enquiries/ or a copy of the Bill, please contact LiquorWise on - [email protected].  

New Liquor Law for Limpopo Province published for comment

Liquor Law - The new, proposed Liquor Act for Limpopo Province was published for comment on 26 June 2015.   Anyone interested in how it may affect current and/or proposed liquor licence holders in the Limpopo Province can contact LiquorWise at - [email protected]

New Liquor Law for North West Province Withdrawn

Liquor Law -  The new, proposed Liquor Act for the North West Province, which was published for comment on 26 August 2015, was withdrawn on 1 September 2015 for reasons unknown.


Thursday 3 September 2015

Eastern Cape proposes New Liquor Law

Liquor Law -  The MEC of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism for the Eastern Cape published the "Eastern Cape Liquor Amendment Bill, 2015" on 31 July 2015.   Members of the public only had 14 days within which to comment on the Bill.   This period is extremely short, as the general public may only have learnt of its existence by chance, such as reading one of the newspapers which choose to report on it. Once the Bill is signed into law, it will be known as the "Eastern Cape Liquor Authority Act, 2014" and will replace the current liquor act - the "Eastern Cape Liquor Act (10 of 2003).  

Please contact us if you have any questions on how the proposed new liquor law may affect current and / or proposed liquor licence holders in the Eastern Cape, may contact us on - [email protected].

New Liquor Law for North West Province Published

Liquor law -  The North West Province Liquor Licensing Bill was published on 26 August 2015 in an extraordinary provincial gazette.    The Bill will become law once the MEC publishes a date for implementation.   It will probably be implemented in stages, with the sections dealing with the establishment of a Liquor Authority to be first.   Once the administrative structures have been put in place, the MEC will announce a date for the implementation of the remainder.  

As reported before, there are a number of sections which might be deemed controversial.   One of these is the closing time of 0h00 for all on consumption premises.  We will not be surprised if the  Liquor Act is amended soon after being implemented to accommodate on consumption business by extending their liquor trading hours.   Another is the discrepancy between the closing times of liquor stores (20h00), compared to supermarkets(17h00).   All off-consumption liquor outlets are prevented from trading on Sundays.  

Please forward any comments or questions regarding this new liquor law to us and we'll endeavour to reply as soon as possible.

(Article by The Licence Co)


Mpumalanga Liquor Licence Holders - Renew before 30 September or you may be fined

Mpumalanga Liquor Act ("Liquor Act") - Mpumalanga liquor licence holders should take note of the new requirements to renew their liquor licences.   Liquor licences are not renewed by merely paying the annual liquor licence fee, as was the case under the previous, 1989 - Liquor Act.  The new Liquor Act,  introduced at the end of August 2014, requires licence holders to apply to have their licences renewed no less than 90 days before a licence would expire.   The application has to be accompanied by proof of payment of the annual liquor licence fee.   This means that all Mpumalange Liquor Licence holders have to submit a licence renewal application on or before 30 September 2015, with proof of payment of the annual licence fee for 2016.   Failure to do so, may lead to heavy penalties.  Worse still, the renewal application may not be considered until proof of payment is presented.

The Licence Co (LiquorWise Division) urges all Mpumalanga Licence Holders to proceed with lodgement of their liquor licence renewal applications without delay to prevent having to pay penalties and possibly jeapordise the validity of their licences.  

(Article by The Licence Co) 

Mpumalanga Liquor Act : New Liquor Regulations - Again!

Mpumalanga Liquor Act -  New regulations has been published by the Premier for the second time since the new Mpumalanga Liquor Act was introduced at the end of August 2014.   The new regulations mainly rectify a number of administrative oversights with the drafting of the original forms.   However, of more concern to the general public and licence holders should be the increase in licences fees in general.  

The lucrative and growing micro-manufacturing sector has been targeted, with licence and renewal fees having been increased by between 400% and 500%!

[Article by The Licence Co (LiquorWise Division)]

New Offices for Western Cape Liquor Authority

Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA) -   The WCLA moved into its new premises at the start of July 2015.   The offices (reception) is situated on the third floor of the well-known Sanbel building, Voortrekker Road, Bellville - opposite the massive head office of international life assurer - Sanlam.

Most Capetonians will welcome the move, not least because of the traffic nightmare when faced with having to drive into the Cape Town CBD at any time of day.   It is arguably more central to the majority of Capetonians and parking is sure to be much less of an issue!

We at LiquorWise are smiling - our Bellville office is but a stone's throw from the new WCLA offices!  We wish the WCLA a happy and productive stay. 

(Article by The Licence Co (LiquorWise Division)

Link between Liquor & Looks?

Liquor -  Is there a connection between alcohol consumption and “perceived attractiveness”?   We'll bet 9 out 10 people would say yes.   In a recent stuy by Bristol University, 311 people from three local liquor outlets were screened – in a pub environment.    They had to rate the attractiveness of faces using a tablet and had to submit to breathalyser tests.    



 The conclusion – no evidence to suggest a link between alcohol consumption and perception of attractiveness.    While most people seem funnier to themselves, as well as to others, having consumed alcohol, we doubt whether they seem more attractive.    You be the judge.  
(Articel by The Licence Co, source - www.thespiritsbusiness.com)