New liquor law: Drink up and go home early

The new Limpopo Liquor Act is cause for great concern among these business owners, as it will reduce their operating times by two hours. The new act, which came into effect on Tuesday 1 August, determines that all liquor traders must close their doors by midnight, where they previously could stay open until 02:00.

According to the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet), this law aims to curb crime caused by liquor abuse such as gender-based violence, child abuse, community instability, trauma incidents, and various sexual offenses.

Business owners are worried about the impact this legislation will have.

“We have struggled to survive during the Covid 19-lockdown and thereafter load shedding. These new regulations will increase the difficulty to stay afloat in a business endeavour. It will also have an impact on the jobs of many of those working in the industry, as businesses will have to cut costs,” said Koos van der Merwe, owner of Die Buiteklub in Modimolle.

A tavern owner in Phagameng, Die Pos spoke to echoed these concerns. He declined to further comment on the topic.

“We are more than willing to work with the government to find a sensible solution,” Van der Merwe said. Not all changes are to the detriment of the industry, he said. Where businesses previously had to apply for licenses through a consultant, they can now apply directly via a website, which reduces costs and limits corruption.”

According to Van der Merwe, pubs in Modimolle tend to be busiest after 16:00.

“Some nights we close as early as 22:00. Over weekends or when we host shows, we are open until after midnight. This new legislation will definitely affect the income of liquor traders,” he said.

The National Liquor Traders Council and Liquor Traders Association of South Africa state that their coalition of traders employs more than 282 000 workers countrywide — this is a valuable contribution in a country with a disconcertingly high unemployment rate. It often offers employment to people with no qualifications. The National Liquor Traders Council voiced their concern that those two hours after midnight are when liquor traders are busiest during weekends.

Among residents of Modimolle, there are varied opinions on the implementation of this law.

A resident of Extension 6 in Phagameng (who wishes to remain anonymous) says that there are three taverns in the neighborhood near her house. During weekends they cause an uproar with loud music and customers being loud in the streets until after 02:00 when they close shop. Nearby residents have difficulty sleeping through the noise.

Readers’ reaction to voicing their opinion on Die Pos Facebook page showed controversy. Many readers doubted that these harsh measures will help to reduce crime. Where on the other hand many objected to the amendments and said the only people to be curbed by these new regulations are the business proprietors who are already law-abiding.

Rodgers Manama, MEC for Ledet, said last week that there is still room to make amendments to the regulations. He met with the National Liquor Traders, Drinks Federation SA, Sekhukhune Liquor Traders, and other role players who voiced their opposition to the new regulations.

The National Liquor Traders Association has lodged an urgent court application to interdict the implementation of the Limpopo Liquor Act of 2009. The application will be heard by the High Court in Polokwane on Tuesday 8th of August.