Liquor Act | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

The Sweet Service Award goes to the Western Cape Government, and its Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Tourism, Alan Winde, for promising to relook the new provincial Liquor Act, and how the red tape in its implementation can be reduced. Particularly welcome is the promise that ‘we have agreed to review the section of the Act which requires citizens to request approval to store more than 150 litres of liquor on a premises. This section was originally inserted to give police the power to prosecute illegal outlet owners who claim that the liquor on their premises is for private use’, according to a media statement which the Minister issued yesterday. While the exact nature of the ‘review’ is not clear, it would appear that it may be removed!

The Sour Service Award goes to SASSA (South African Social Security Agency), and is nominated by Rob Harris: “To SASSA: not to them in principle for what they do, but for 2 things (1) the rollout of the new SASSA chip ‘n pin card that some hidden snags – the biggest being that any funds on a card will be blocked from the 20th till the end of each month – according to their service provider, CPS ( a division of Grindrod Bank) this is so they can reconcile the SASSA payments with the CPS. One would have thought that with sophisticated banking systems and a verified database of grant recipients, this would be the same as a debit order run on the last day of the month and not needing 10 days to implement and (2) for the unacceptable delays in holding on for a telephone call to be answered. My call took 45 minutes before someone answered – when they did eventually speak to me they were efficient, polite and knowledgeable … but if I hadn’t been using a landline, and didn’t have the time what then? I have spoken to many people who have had all their airtime drained to zero while they held on for the next available operator! With so many people on the SASSA system who are eligible to receive the various grants, you would have thought the least they could have done was be more transparent about the time funds are inaccessible, also have a better communication system, and chosen a service provider that was better organised. It would be interesting to hear what Grindrod’s Chairman has to say, because if you CAN get through to any department of Grindrod, you get the stock answer – phone the “helpline” which is in itself, an oxymoron!’

The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog. Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com. Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.

Wine marketing will not be the same again if the planned provisions in the proposed amendment to the Western Cape Liquor Act and Regulations are introduced. However, some changes are positive.

Wine.co.za reported about the implications the “stern regulations” for wine estates in South Africa, as well as for persons selling wine, or just collecting it.

The proposed regulations give municipalities a greater say in wine marketing, with wine licence applications costing R 1 000 for the application alone, R 2 000 for the granting of a wine licence, and R 4 000 per annum for the renewal fee.

The new Act, according to Danie Cronje, of Cluver Markotter Incorporated, and a speaker at the recent South African Wine Tourism Conference, demands that wine estates must have a licence to produce wine – previously they needed it to sell wines. The new Act only exempts garagistes who make wine for themselves and do not plan to resell it, from the licence. Producers who use other producers’ wine cellars will also have to apply for a licence, as will wine estates who sell their stock to existing licence holders, such as hotels, restaurants and liquor stores, currently being exempt from a licence requirement.

The article refers to the Act allowing wine estates to now charge for winetastings, but this has been done for some time now. The winetasting times are subject to the municipal regulations. So, for example, it is proposed that liquor stores, wine shops and supermarkets be allowed to open from 9h00 – 18h00, while restaurants, hotels, clubs and pubs can trade from 11h00 – 2h00, if they are not in a residential area, where the trading time is reduced until 21h00.

Licence applications will also have to be advertised in local newspapers, displayed on the premises, and submitted to the municipalities and ward councillors, the Act proposes.

Wine estates may not sell more than 30 litres of wine, 10 litres of spirits, or 100 litres of beer per day to a person who does not have a liquor licence. It would also be an offence to have more than this quantity of liquor in one’s possession, even in one’s home, a major knock for wine collectors, who would be forced to get a liquor licence as well.

One good aspect of the proposed legislation change is that supermarkets may sell wine up to 16,5 % alcohol content, compared to 14 %, once the legislation is passed. Also, wine sales on Sundays in supermarkets could also be allowed, subject to municipal approval thereof as to the trading days and hours.

Another positive aspect of the Act is that open bottles of wine may not be transported, and one may not drink alcohol and drive, with heavy fines to be implemented.

Cronje has recommended to the wine industry that liquor licence applications should be done before the new Liquor Act is legislated, because it will become a more cumbersome and expensive process once the Act is legislated.

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