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. Continue reading →
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced in his State of the Province address last week that the Province is to tighten its alcohol laws to curb the abuse of alcohol, a clear problem in our country, reports BusinessTech.
The Western Cape Liquor Act is to be amended, in order to address the alcohol abuse, and to enhance the efficiency of the Province’s Liquor Authority. Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Every day the world’s airlines fly 8 million passengers around the world, a total of 3,1 billion in 2013, breaking through the 3 million passenger mark for the first time. More than 50 million tonnes of cargo is transported annually, and the airline industry’s direct global economic contribution is $540 billion.
* South African wines will be represented at the Wine Buyers Forum Windsor 2014, at which buyers with a buying power of $2,2 million each will attend on 10 and 11 March.
* The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that passenger numbers stabilised in November 2013, relative to the same month a year prior, with a growth of only 4%. The Middle East had the highest growth rate at 10%, while Africa saw a decline Continue reading →
What sounded like an April Fool’s joke was in fact reality, when stringent new operating hours of establishments selling alcoholic beverages were announced, as well as a number of very odd regulations regarding the purchase and storage of such beverages, were regulated via the Liquor Trading Days and Hours By-law. Receiving numerous complaints as well as threatened legal action from retailers who have been refused alcoholic beverage sales on Sundays, has led the City of Cape Town to call for a further round of comments from the public, as well as from affected retailers.
The City of Cape Town is allowing a 45 day period, ending on 20 May, for comments to a draft of the new By-law, which is only 22 days old. Following immediate feedback, the City is planning to allow alcoholic beverage retailers in city areas to trade on Sundays, and to trade later than the newly instituted 18h00 time limit on Mondays – Saturdays. The new By-Law had been through a public participation process, but Sunday retail trading did not appear to elicit any reaction at that time. Only wine estates are allowed to sell wine on Sundays in the new By-Law.
The City has graciously allowed those retailers holding a liquor licence in built-up city areas to continue trading on Sundays while the comments are being received and evaluated. Trading hours as per the new By-Law must however be followed. Gareth Bloor, Councillor for Economic, Environmental, and Spatial Planning, said the City of Cape Town has to balance the needs of the hospitality industry with the health and social effects of alcohol abuse in residential areas in particular, according to its media statement.
The City has lost credibility in capitulating so quickly on its new Liquor Trading Days and Hours By-law, and one wonders why it did not think this part of the By-Law through before its implementation. Threatened court cases may have led to the rapid halt in the implementation of the By-Law clause pertaining to the retail sales of alcohol on Sundays in city areas.
Liquor Trading Days and Hours By-Law, City of Cape Town. www.capetown.gov.za/bylaws
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage