Cape Town residents will have another chance to comment on the liquor trading and hours by-law which came into effect this week.
|||Cape Town - Cape Town residents will have another chance to comment on the liquor trading and hours by-law which came into effect this week, a city official said on Wednesday.
The public participation process was part of the city's consideration of possible amendments to sections of the by-law, said Garreth Bloor, economic, environmental, and spatial planning mayoral committee member.
“Any revisions to parts of the by-law will seek to strike a balance between the possible economic impact of regulations by ensuring the reasonable sale of alcohol within the hospitality sector, while at the same time looking to address the social effects of alcohol abuse,” he said.
The first round of participation was expected to commence in mid-April, would be advertised in the media, and run for 30 days.
The second round was a 45-day period, which would allow for input on draft amendments based on comments received in the first round.
The announcement followed a request from the city council last week to consider and initiate amendments to the by-law, in terms of the revised trading hours and the Sunday off-site sales prohibition.
The council recommended that off-site consumption be permitted on application by licence holders in certain categories, excluding local business and residential areas.
As it stands, the by-law states that licensed businesses may sell liquor for off-site consumption from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 6pm.
No liquor may be sold off-site on a Sunday, except for wineries, which can trade from their tasting rooms on that day. - Sapa