CT seeks liquor by-law comment
2009-01-27 15:29
Cape Town - The public has been urged to comment before February 27 on the draft by-law regarding liquor trading days and hours, the City of Cape Town said on Tuesday.
"We now need to get a broader comment from the public in order to help us draft a good piece of legislation, which balances everyone's rights in the city," said the City's liquor policy task team chairperson Taki Amira.
Amira said the by-law was the city's only tool to address public concerns over excessive drinking and public drunkenness in residential areas.
Some of the significant changes the by-law proposes are that bed and breakfast facilities would be strictly prohibited from selling alcohol.
It proposes that guest houses, pubs, clubs and theatres in residential areas could trade in liquor from 11:00 to 21:00, while those in business and industrial areas could trade until 02:00 the next day.
Supermarkets would be able to sell wine from 09:00 to 18:00 from Sunday to Monday.
Bottle stores, where liquor is not consumed on the premises, would be able to trade from 09:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Saturday.
Wine farms, restaurants and guest accommodation in agricultural areas could sell on-site consumption from 11:00 to midnight and off-site consumption from 09:00 to 18:00.
Provincial parameters
Amira said the city's draft by-law proposed regulating the hours and days of trading by licensed liquor establishments based on the city's zoning regulations, but within the provincial parameters.
The provincial Liquor Act stipulates that the hours for selling liquor are between 09:00 and 18:00 for off-site consumption premises, and between 11:00 and 02:00 for on-site consumption premises any day of the week.
A one-day public hearing for the draft by-law has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 17. The task team will deliberate on all submissions received by February 27.
A final draft of the by-law would be handed to a special planning and environmental portfolio committee before its tabling at a March 9 mayoral committee meeting, for approval by the full council by the end of March.
Amira said it was important to note that it was not the draft by-laws but the provincial Liquor Act which governed liquor licensing and the sale, supply and regulation of alcohol throughout the province.
On Monday, the Cape Times reported that the Western Cape Liquor Act, which was approved by the provincial parliament in November last year, had caused an outcry from illegal shebeen owners. People applying for licences had complained of delays.
The newspaper reported that police had been raiding and closing illegal shebeens since sections of the act came into effect on January 1.
- To comment, visit www.capetown.gov.za/en/ByLaws/Pages/Howtocomment.aspx.
- SAPA