Cape Town - Forget thoughts of long, boozy breakfasts - instead of a full alcohol menu as suggested just a few weeks ago, only sparkling wine will be allowed at breakfast events after all.
City of Cape Town councillors on Wednesday approved its new Control of Undertakings that Sell Liquor to the Public, 2013 by-law. It was expected to come into effect on February 1.
In a surprise move, DA councillor Taki Amira made a last-minute recommendation to the council on Wednesday that the draft by-law be amended in the section regarding champagne breakfasts so that the word “liquor be removed and replaced with the word sparkling wine”.
He said the decision had been made in consultation with lawyers and members of city manager’s office.
ANC councillor Daniel Mphila described this move as discriminatory.
“This is a direct discrimination to some of the people who don’t believe in sparkling wine.”
He said he would want to drink traditional beer with breakfast.
“This thing is against the constitution. It is discriminatory.”
The Cape Times reported just last week that it had been decided to accommodate the possibility of other types of liquor being served at breakfast events.
The controversial liquor trading hours by-law was first mooted and passed in 2010 which brought sweeping changes to bar hours and when booze could be sold - including banning champagne breakfasts.
The by-law came under heavy fire and the city had to backtrack on several clauses.
Last year, the city relented and made a change to allow sparkling wine to be served at breakfasts between 8am and 11am.
The new by-law would allow bottle store owners to apply for an extension of weekly trading hours and Sunday trading.
Out of 190 council members, 129 had voted that the by-law be approved.
Cape Times