Traders lament liquor bill’s proposals

File picture: Eric Risberg/AP

File picture: Eric Risberg/AP

Published Nov 24, 2016

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Cape Town - With a week left before the public comment phase on the national liquor bill closes, the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) came out in support of township liquor traders, saying the government should not dictate how they do business.

KDF chairman Ndithini Thyido said they had not yet met with the Vuma liquor traders’ association (VULTA) regarding proposed amendments, but would support them. “We encourage traders to trade responsibly and they should not allow the government to make scapegoats of their businesses.”

Thyido said there was a tendency to over-regulate the sale of alcohol in townships and it was unfair to have a blanket approach to liquor laws. “The government should not shift the blame on traders and this enforcement is unfair to black business owners as apartheid structures have played a role in townships.”

About 100 liquor traders met in Khayelitsha yesterday to discuss the proposed amendments which will see many shebeens, taverns and off consumption traders either lose their businesses or their liquor licences. The meeting, which was hosted by VULTA, an unregistered organisation, saw many liquor business owners standing together in the fight to save their businesses.

With legal drinking age set to be raised from 18 to 21, VULTA said not only was the law unrealistic, but it would drive youth to drugs.

Other amendments include zoning changes and a stricter regulation and enforcement of trading hours.

The public comment phase closes on November 30.

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CAPE ARGUS

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