Govt to impose hefty liquor licence fees for World Cup
2010-02-18 12:00
THE organisers or owners of any “public viewing event” of Soccer
World Cup games will have to pay R50 000 for a special liquor licence, the
Independent Online reported today.
This is according to draft legislation gazetted by the department
of trade and industry (DTI) on January 18, which was open for comment until
yesterday.
It contains a “2010 Soccer World Cup Liquor Policy” which states
that any “public viewing event” where matches are broadcast to the “general
public or otherwise” will need the liquor licence.
This law will be applied everywhere except in “private
dwellings”.
This includes “cinemas, bars, restaurants, stadiums, open spaces,
offices, construction sites, oil rigs, water-borne vessels, buses, trains, armed
services establishments, educational establishments and hospitals”.
But liquor law expert Marius Blom said the proposed bill
contradicted provisions in the Constitution.
He also said the department had gone beyond the boundaries of its
powers.
“Government, through the DTI, simply does not have the competency
to regulate the retail sale and the consumption of liquor during the World Cup,”
said Blom.
He said only provinces had the authority to legislate the
consumption of liquor.
“Nowhere in any of the instruments of legislation applicable in
each of the provinces, is there any provision for special licences with a
licence fee of R50 000.
“There is also no provision for a type of licence which will only
be valid for the World Cup period,” said Blom, in a letter to the Gauteng Liquor
Board this week.
He said existing licensees had a legal right to trade in liquor on
their premises.
- SAPA