The Department of Trade and Industry has proposed amendments to the Liquor Act, which many alcoholic beverage users will find hard to swallow!
The most controversial amendment proposal is raising the legal drinking age to 21 years , reports the Atlantic Sun. Even more onerous for retailers, and restaurant and bar owners, is the proposal that such establishments be held liable for damage which is done by their intoxicated customers! One wonders how such damage liability will be proven in a court of law!
The proposal is that suppliers of alcohol should not sell any beverage to already-intoxicated persons, but no allowance is made for a breathalyzer test to be done to test this. Should a customer be involved in an accident or crime due to the intoxication, liability could be leveled against the alcohol manufacturer, retailer, or the distributor! Age verification will lie with the retail or bar staff, it is proposed.
Business owners have already expressed their criticism of being held liable for their customers’ drinking as well as consequent impact. Preventing drunk customers from driving under the influence would be far more effective in preventing accidents, it is felt, but such policing is not done frequently enough!
Generally the current liquor legislation is poorly enforced, so the new proposed legislation is not likely to be more successful in preventing excessive drinking, and the consequences thereof. The proposed changes a vague in nit defining how much drinking is too much. Ideally traffic officers should patrol popular bar areas, and do tests before patrons get into their cars. Designated drivers should be become the norm.
It is estimated that South Africans consume 5 billion liters of alcohol per year.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: click here
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