Subject: P/P: W57: WESTERN CAPE LIQUOR AMENDMENT BILL PASSED IN PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT Press statement by Alan Winde
Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism 7 December 2010 Liquor Amendment Bill passed in Western Cape Provincial Parliament Today, the Western Cape Liquor Amendment Bill was voted on, and unanimously approved, by Members of the Provincial Parliament. The Bill, which will become law when assented to and signed by Premier Helen Zille, legislates four main changes to the Western Cape Liquor Act, which was signed into law by then-Premier Lynne Brown in 2008, but has yet to be promulgated in its entirety. The Amendment Bill makes the following changes: 1. It provides for the establishment of the Western Cape Liquor Authority, which will consider liquor license applications. It will replace the current Liquor Board. 2. It removes the possibility of a special event licence being granted to a school. This is in line with the National Schools Act, which prohibits the sale of alcohol on school premises. 3. It gives municipalities the power to determine trading hours and days 4. It does away with the payment of security for the costs of an appeal to the Appeal Tribunal. This makes it easier to appeal the granting or refusal of a license. As soon as the Liquor Amendment Bill is assented to, further provisions of the Western Cape Liquor Act (2008) will be brought into operation. In January, we will establish the Liquor Authority and, in cooperation with Designated Police Officers, metro law enforcement and the South African police, begin to target distributors that are supplying illegal liquor outlets. Later in 2011, we will commence with a targeted campaign against individual liquor outlets that are operating illegally. Those who continue to flout the law will be shown no mercy. Serious offences, such as selling liquor without a license, selling liquor to underage children or supplying liquor instead of wages (Dop-System), will be liable for fines of up to R1 million or imprisonment of up to 5 years. Since the original Act was passed two years ago, liquor establishments have had a window period in which to find suitably zoned premises from which to operate legally, become licensed, or alternatively, migrate to other forms of trade. Most have done neither. Instead, they have continued to sell liquor in contravention of the law to the detriment of surrounding families. There are currently around 25 000 illegal shebeens in the Western Cape. Our province is the worst in the country in terms of binge drinking, alcohol related violence and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In addition, there is a strong link between underage drinking and academic failure. Liquor related road accidents cost the provincial government between R4 billion and R6 billion every year. Government has a responsibility to address liquor abuse in our communities and to reduce the financial burden it places on the fiscus and, ultimately, service delivery. The passing of this Bill into law is a significant step in the fight against alcohol abuse in the Western Cape. ENDS NOTE: This e-mail (including attachments) is subject to the disclaimer published at: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/disclaimer.aspx. Please read the disclaimer before opening any attachment or taking any other action in terms of this e-mail. If you cannot access the disclaimer, kindly send an email to [email protected] and a copy will be provided to you. By replying to this e-mail or opening any attachment you agree to be bound by the provisions of the disclaimer. Take care, David David Raphael 072 065 7223 Deputy Chairperson OBS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH _____ Please consider the environment before you print this e-mail!! -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en.
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