The Saldanha Bay Municipality published its bylaw on liquor trading days and hours on the 24th of December.
Wednesday, 13 February, 2013
Danie Cronje
The bylaw
makes provision for the sale of liquor by wineries, supermarkets and liquor
stores from 09h00 until 20h00 Monday to Saturday and from 09h00 until 14h00 on
Sundays.
Businesses with on-consumption licenses such as restaurants, bars and sport clubs will be allowed to sell liquor from 11h00 until 02h00 in business areas.
In residential areas these businesses will be allowed to sell from 11h00 until 23h00.
In mixed use areas on-consumption licensed premises will also be allowed to sell 11h00 until 23h00 with sports and community clubs being allowed to sell from 11h00 until 24h00.
Hotels will be allowed to sell from 11h00 until 02h00 irrespective of where they are located.
Hotels will also be allowed to sell liquor by way of room service 24 hours a day.
Businesses with on-consumption licenses will be entitled to sell sparkling wine from 08h00 until 11h00 as part of a meal to guests attending an organised function.
This was included to cater for champagne breakfasts.
According to Danie Cronjé, the Director of Liquor Law Services at Cluver Markotter Incorporated, the Constitution allows the municipality to impose the bylaw immediately.
However, municipalities have accepted the Liquor Board and SAPS’ interpretation of the Western Cape Liquor Act in terms of which municipal bylaws on liquor trading hours will only commence on the 1st of April 2013 when the twelve month transitional period in terms of the Act comes to an end.
However, where the bylaw is more favourable than current trading hours, for example where it includes Sunday trading for businesses which were previously not entitled to trade on Sunday, these more favourable provisions are immediately applicable.
This means supermarkets and liquor stores may already sell liquor on Sunday in the Saldanha Municipality.