Central SA
Community leaders concerned about Northern Cape’s new liquor act─── CASEY-LEE ANTHONY 15:19 Mon, 15 Apr 2024
“The act intends to control the distribution and retail of alcohol, licensing applications, public participation and notice, and the encouragement of responsible alcohol usage.”
The Northern Cape provincial government has implemented the new Northern Cape Gambling & Liquor Act, extending liqour trading hours.
The act is intended to control the distribution and retail of alcohol, licensing applications, public participation and notice, and the encouragement of responsible alcohol usage.
As of 1 April, the new operational hours are:
Stores that sell alcohol: 09:00–17:00 from Monday to Friday and are now able to be open from 09:00–17:00 on Saturday, and Sunday, as well as public holidays.
New hours for night clubs to operate are 18:00–06:00 Monday through Saturday, and 18:00–00:00 on Sundays as well as public holidays.
‘The problem is how they drink’
Upington resident and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Sylvia Lucas, is opposed to the extended hours. “We have socio-economic problems in the province. Alcohol use and abuse are two of them.
“But I am also of the opinion that we should educate our community to be responsible drinkers. Even if the liquor store is open or not, people will drink. The problem is how they drink and that is important and why we should educate them.”
Establishments selling alcohol need to be more mindful of their social responsibility, she said. Additionally, a programme educating the public about responsible drinking practices should be implemented.
‘Freedom depends on everybody working together’
EFF Regional Chairman Dirk Esau also voiced his concerns that “liquor and its sales especially now on Sundays contribute greatly to the overall fatigue and backlog of our communities.
“The fact that our youth, in particular, is so caught up and seduced with lavish advertisements and promotions of alcohol and its use is entirely different from what we see on television and social media regarding drinking.”
Dirk said the EFF will be asking community members to join them in stopping the sale of alcohol on Sundays due to the severe and existing circumstances, understanding that freedom depends on everybody working together to transform society.
