The meeting was called by Mr. Thys Giliomee the new CEO of the Western Cape Liquor Authority. The Liquor Authority was established in terms of the Western Cape Liquor act which commenced on the 1st of April. The Authority includes the Western Cape Liquor Board which deals with the administration relating to liquor licences and the Liquor Licencing Tribunal which considers applications for new licences. Stakeholders, including attorneys and liquor licence consultants who assist applicants with applications for liquor licences, were invited. According to Danie Cronje, the Director of Liquor Law at Cluver Markotter Incorporated some of the amendments suggested will benefit the wine industry if approved. Cronje represents industry organisations such as Vinpro and the SA Wine Routes Forum as well as using producing wholesalers, wine estates as well as two supermarket groups. One of the problems with the Act is the fact that the holders of off-consumption liquor licences such as wine estates cannot apply for temporary liquor licences in order to sell bottled wine at events such as wine festivals. According to Cronje it is likely that this oversight will now be corrected. A change which will assist organisers of events who apply for temporary liquor licences is the proposed relaxation of the requirements for applications for temporary liquor licences. It was proposed in that the requirement for detailed plans and photographs of the area where liquor will be sold be removed from the Act. According to Cronje a number of corrections required for the various application forms included in the Act were also brought to the attention of their Liquor Authority. It is expected that the Liquor Authority will consider the proposals and submit their recommendations to the standing committee on Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism who is responsible for any amendments to be made to the Act itself. Recommendations regarding amendments to the regulations will be forwarded to the responsible MEC, Mr. Alan Winde.