26 Aug 2018

The deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Ms Ontlametse Ward says her ministry is in consultation with the nation on proposals to review regulations on alcohol trade.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Matsiloje recently, Ms Ward explained that the  Liquor Act was reviewed last in 2003 and it seemed that the Act had been overtaken by events.

She said consultative meetings were meant to get views and feedback from the general public about the new regulations.

Ms Wards further explained that the review was necessitated by the fact that liquor business operators  were complaining about the trading hours which they considered limiting for them to make business.

She explained that under the proposed trading hours, bottle stores, liquor distributors and liquor wholesalers would now operate on public holidays and Sundays unlike in the current regulations.

She explained that the ministry proposed that bottle stores should open from 8am and close at 9pm from Monday to Saturday.

In addition, she said the ministry also proposed that bottle stores open at 8am and close at 9 pm on public holidays whilst on Sunday they open at 10 am and close at 7pm.

The current situation is that bottle stores open at 10am and close at 7pm from Mondays to Saturdays whilst they were not allowed to trade on public holidays and Sundays.

Liquor distributors and wholesalers would trade from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday while on public holidays they would open at 8am and close at 5pm . On Sundays, they would also operate from 8am to 5pm.

The current situation is that wholesale Liquor and Distributor Liquor Licences authorise the sale of liquor for consumption off the premises between 8am and 5pm on Monday to Saturday and were not allowed to trade on public holidays and Sundays.

Ms Ward further explained that the proposed trading hours for bars were  that they would open 12 noon and close at 10pm from Monday to Thursday while on Friday and Saturday, they would open at 12 noon  and close at 12 am. On Sundays, they would open at 12 noon and close at 10pm. The current situation is that the sale and consumption of liquor on the licensed premises are between 2pm and 10 pm from Monday to Thursday and from 12 noon to 11pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 3 pm to 10 pm on Sundays and Public Holidays.

The proposed liquor trading hours for festivals would be from 12 noon to 6pm on Mondays to Thursdays and 1200hrs to 0600hrs on Fridays and Saturdays and they would now be allowed to operate on Public holidays from 1200hrs to 0600hrs and 12 noon to 7pm on Sundays.

The current situation is that festivals are allowed from 2pm to 12 am on Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays and were not allowed on Public Holidays and Sundays.  Kgosi Moipolai commended the government for the consultation and supported the proposals even though he complained about the opening trading hours for bars.

Residents also commended the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry for the consultation saying consultation was important on matters that affected people’s lives.  Giving a vote of thanks, Councillor Florah Mpetsane complained about loud noises from bars saying the new liquor regulations should address this problem which is coupled with alcohol abuse amongst the youth.

The ministry is currently on a countrywide tour addressing kgotla meetings to get a feedback on the proposed liquor trading hours. ENDS