Booze laws could bring hangover

Guesthouses, pubs, clubs and theatres in residential areas will be allowed to sell alcohol only until 9pm, if the city's draft bylaw on liquor trading days and hours is passed later this year.

Those in business nodes will be able to trade until 2am.

The good news is that supermarkets will now be able to sell wine seven days a week until 6pm.

A public hearing on the draft bylaw is scheduled for 17 February, when industry players are invited to make submissions to the liquor policy task team.

The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa's Cape chairman, Phillip Couvaras, said: "We are at the dawn of 2010 and are now proposing to reduce our services to the international visitor. In Europe, you don't go out to dinner before 9pm.

"The city needs to address issues like women and alcohol abuse and not the international traveller coming out for dinner."

Couvaras said the draft bylaws did not elaborate on the specific zonings. "It is not clear what will happen to restaurants and hotels in residential areas or located in mixed-use buildings," he said.

The public has until 27 February to make submissions.

Members of the Western Cape Shebeen Association marched to parliament yesterday, demanding better treatment and the opportunity to voice grievances regarding the Western Cape Liquor Act, which governs the sale, supply and regulation of alcohol in the province.

Source: The Times

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