Stellenbosch publishes draft bylaw on liquor trading hours
Monday, 11 February, 2013
Danie Cronje
The Stellenbosch Municipality published its draft Bylaw on Liquor Trading Days and Hours for public comment.
The bylaw makes provision for the sale of bottled wine by wine cellars from 09h00 – 18h00 Monday to Sunday.
Liquor stores, supermarkets and wine shops will also be able to sell between 09h00 and 18h00 but not on Sunday.
Premises with on-consumption liquor licenses such as restaurants, bars, sport clubs, night clubs, pubs and taverns located in business areas will be allowed to sell liquor from 11h00 to 02h00 Monday to Sunday.
Those in residential areas will only be allowed to sell from 11h00 to 22h00 and those in mixed use areas, from 11h00 to 23h00.
The bylaw makes provision for the holders of on-consumption licenses can apply for an extension of their hours.
Hotels will be entitled to sell liquor in their dining rooms and lounges from 11h00 to 02h00 Monday to Sunday and by way of room service 24 hours a day.
The bylaw caters for champagne breakfasts by making provision for the sale of sparkling wine from 08h00 until 11h00 provided that it is served with a meal during an organised function.
According to Danie Cronjé, the Director of Liquor Law at Cluver Markotter Incorporated, role players in the wine industry are expected to request that off-consumption licence holders also be allowed to apply for extension of their trading hours so that they could have the option to retain their current trading hours until 20h00.
The holders of liquor licenses for supermarkets may also request an amendment to include the right to sell wine on Sunday in view of the fact that wine estates will be allowed to sell the same wine on Sunday.
According to Cronjé it is expected that clubs and pubs which currently have the right to sell liquor until 04h00, as well as others who do not, will apply for an extension.