Fuel, liquor law hits centres too

Cape Town - Parts of the Western Cape Liquor Act - including a clause that has major ramifications for licensed establishments sharing an erf with a petrol station - may soon be amended, Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Alan Winde has said.

Another clause likely to be amended is one that prohibits a person from having more than 200 bottles of wine, or 150 litres, on their premises.

The Liquor Act came into effect last April a year before the city’s liquor trading days and hours by-law was implemented on April 1.

Last month, Danie Cronje, director of Liquor Law Services at Cluver Markotter Inc, pointed out the legislation said all liquor traders on the same erf as a petrol station would have to reapply for their licences.

He said it was not just conveniece stores in petrol stations but “it applies to all shops, supermarkets, bars, restaurants and hotels with a liquor licence and on the same erf as a petrol station”.

“They didn’t realise, when they worded the law, this would apply to nearly every shopping mall in the area including the V&A Waterfront, Tyger Valley Shopping Centre, Constantia Village and even Cape Town International Airport.”

Another concern, Cronje said, was the clause prohibiting one from having more than 150l of alcohol: “That definitely has to be reconsidered and amended.”

On Tuesday, Winde said his office had received numerous complaints since the act came into effect.

“It has become clear that some parts of the legislation which have had unintended consequences should be amended,” he said

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