In the State of the Province Address earlier this week, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced the status of the proposed changes to the Western Cape Liquor Act, reports BusinessTech.

The focus of the Liquor Act amendments is to address alcohol abuse in the province.

The Premier said: “Our provincial cabinet has now granted in-principle approval for the first set of amendments to the Western Cape Liquor Amendment Bill to be drafted. Drafting instructions are now in an advanced stage, and should be completed imminently. The next steps will include a full Regulatory Impact Assessment process of the second set of proposed amendments to the bill.”

A two-step amendment process is to be followed to ensure that ‘quick-win amendments’ can be made as soon as possible, and not be delayed by more significant changes requiring an extensive public participation process.

Some of the changes to the Liquor Act which are likely include:

• Ensuring that a record of all liquor sales is kept by outlets and prescribe the measure of detail required;

• Permanently confiscating seized liquor following the payment of an admission of guilt fine;

• Obliging licence holders to take reasonable measures to determine that a client is of legal drinking age;

• Inserting an objective test within the Act to determine whether alcohol has been sold to an unlicensed outlet/individual;

• Aligning the Act with the Liquor Products Act, to ensure a uniform definition of “Illicit liquor”
• Providing for a public participation process to alter existing licences.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide