Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Unsplash
The Western Cape – and by extension, the City of Cape Town – could soon be subject to new laws related to alcohol sales in the province. Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz has confirmed that he is pushing for ‘several amendments’ to be made to the region’s Liquor Act, in a bid to crackdown on badly-behaved booze vendors.
The good news is that, although Fritz does want to see some controls implemented on the sale of alcohol, outright bans are seen as being ‘simply unsustainable’ by the WC Government. The amendments supported by Fritz would look to limit illegal sales, and ensure that ‘proper proof of age checks’ are being carried out by businesses.
“Alcohol bans aren’t sustainable interventions as they have a major impact on our economy and contribute to unemployment in communities. Hence why I agree that it is necessary that the unbanning of alcohol be accompanied by smart interventions, such as the proposed amendments, which aim to reduce alcohol-related harm.”
“We aim to work closely with unlicensed outlets and individuals to ensure they become licensed. This requires a whole of government approach to address issues related to availability and access. The amendments further seek to enable unlicensed outlets to become licensed, and adhere to regulations such as zoning and trading hours.”
MEC Albert Fritz
There is a range of key amendments to the already existing Liquor Act which have been proposed by the provincial government. The plan is to have these proposals reviewed by the local Cabinet before a 21-day consultation window is opened. After public submissions are taken, the Provincial Parliament will debate the amendments before deciding on whether it becomes law or not.
The following proposals have been made by Fritz and his team. They aim to change liquor laws in the Western Cape by: