Proposed changes to liquor act
The national minimum legal age at which alcohol can be purchased and consumed could be raised from 18 to 21 years
THE Minister of Trade and Industry has published the draft Liquor Amendment Bill for broader public comment.
Interested persons need to submit written comments on the proposed Bill by not later than 30 October.
Comments can be addressed to the Director General, Department of Trade and Industry, Private Bag X84, Pretoria, 0001, hand delivered to 77 Meintjies Street, Block B, First Floor, Sunnyside, Pretoria or email NRamphele@thedti.gov.za, for attention Nkoe Ramphele.
Changes
The changes proposed include advertising restrictions, drinking age limits, hours of business, location of premises and the administration being handled by a national liquor regulator established within the Department of Trade and Industry, instead of the minister.
Advertising of liquor by all television channels will be restricted to between 10pm and 6am.
Advertisers will also need to remove content appealing to youth, for example using sport stars and models.
Branding of liquor premises and delivery trucks and/or cars will be prohibited and counter advertisements must identify the harmful effects of liquor abuse.
Age limit
The national minimum legal age at which alcohol can be purchased and consumed could be raised from 18 to 21 years.
Both government authorities and the private sector associated with liquor ills need to aggressively embark on programmes that communicate to the public the ills associated with liquor abuse.
The licensees, manager or any other person dispensing liquor at a premises must take steps to ensure verification of the age of any person who appears to be under the age of 21 by requesting an identity document, passport or driver’s licence to verify the person’s age.
A moderate quantity of liquor may be consumed by a person under 21 if in the presence and under the supervision of a parent, guardian or other adult person.
Public places
Public events include schools activities, special occasions at stadiums and corporate events.
Liquor premises will also need to be at least 500m away from schools, places of worship, recreation facilities, rehabilitation or treatment centres, residential areas and public institutions.
No liquor licences shall be issued to petrol service stations, premises attached to petrol service stations, premises near public transport and areas not classified for entertainment or zoned by municipalities for purposes of trading in liquor.
Premises already licensed within the 500m radius and within high density locations will have to comply with the norms and standards issued from time to time providing for, among others, the issue of trading hours, noise, nuisance and pollution.
The full draft bill can be accessed on the following link: https://www.gov.za/documents/liquor-amendment-bill-draft-30-sep-2016-0000
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