Langeberg municipality publishes liquor bylaw

Tuesday, 26 February, 2013
Danie Cronje
The Langeberg Municipality published its liquor trading hours bylaw on the 25th of January 2013.
It will commence on the 1st of April 2013 when the transitional period in terms of the Western Cape Liquor Act has expired.

In terms of the bylaw,  businesses with on-consumption liquor licences such as restaurants, clubs and pubs will be allowed to sell liquor from 11h00 to 23h00 in residential areas;  from 11h00 to 24h00 in business areas;  from 11h00 to 01h00 in industrial areas and from 11h00 to 02h00 in agricultural areas.

According to Danie Cronje, the Director of Liquor Law Services at Cluver Markotter Inc it is expected that the owners of restaurants and similar premises will question the fact that their bussinesses will have shorter hours than similar premises on agricultural land.

The bylaw also makes provision for the sale of sparkling wine from 08h00 to 11h00 as part of a meal during an organized function in order to cater for champagne breakfasts.

The bylaw makes provision for liquor stores to sell from 09h00 to 20h00 on Monday to Friday and from 09h00 to 18h00 on Saturday.

They may not sell on Sunday.

Licenced wineries, wine shops and “chain shops” are allowed to sell from 09h00 to 20h00 on Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 09h00 to 17h00.

According to Cronje the bylaw does not explain what is meant by “chain shops”.  “One assumes that it refers to supermarkets, which form part of a supermarket chain.  However it may also be applicable to chains of liquor stores such as Tops or Pick ‘n Pay.”

The bylaw does not make provision to apply for the extension of trading hours as provided for in the bylaw of the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Liquor Act.