Witzenberg municipality publishes by-law on liquour trading hours

Friday, 10 May, 2013
Danie Cronje
Witzenberg Municipality published its by-law on liquor trading days and hours on the 3rd of May 2013.
The by-law came into operation on said date.

Liquor stores and supermarkets are permitted to sell liquor from 09h00 to 20h00 Monday to Friday and from 09h00 to 17h00 on Saturday but not on Sunday.

Wineries are permitted to sell during the abovementioned hours but are also permitted to sell bottled wine from 09h00 to 17h00 on Sunday.

Restaurants, guesthouses, clubs, pubs and bars in residential and mixed use areas are permitted to sell liquor from 11h00 to 23h00 Monday to Saturday and between 11h00 to 21h00 on Sunday.

In general business areas such business are permitted to sell liquor from 11h00 to 02h00 Monday to Saturday and 11h00 to 21h00 on Sunday.

Hotels may sell liquor from 11h00 to 02h00 from Monday to Saturday and from 11h00 to 21h00 on Sunday irrespective of the area in which they are located.  Hotels may also sell liquor by way of room service facilities 24 hours a day.

For special event and temporary liquor licences the by-law prescribes that liquor sales may take place as determined by the liquor licence issued by the Western Cape Liquor Authority.

According to Danie Cronje, the Director of Liquor Law Services at Cluver Markotter Incorporated,  the Liquor Authority recently indicated that where a municipal by-law is applicable it will not prescribe trading hours for special event or temporary licences.  As the the by-law does not do so it is uncertain what trading days and hours are applicable.

This is one of the problems with the interaction between Western Cape Liquor Act and municipal by-laws which will be brought to the attention of M E C for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism Mr Allan Winde.   He indicated that amendments to the Western Cape Liquor Act are being considered to rectify problems which have been identified to date.