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Objection to Proposed New Liquor Trading Hours for the Overstrand
Carolyn M.
started this petition to
Overstrand Municipality
In a press release issued by the DA-led Overstrand Municipality on 13 February 2020, residents of Hermanus will be taken back to
the time when the 1989 Liquor Act governed liquor sales
if the proposed changes to the current bylaw are implemented. In terms of the proposed changes, residents will no longer be able to purchase alcohol for off-premises consumption on Sundays. This is likely to have a significant detrimental impact on particularly our wine estates who will suffer financial losses. The proposed by-law purportedly aims at clamping down on shebeens and establishments that sell alcohol illegally, although it is likely that such illegal sales occur on every day of the week in any event. The proposed by-law also rather questionably suggests that alcohol abuse, hooliganism, and public disturbances will be reduced on a Sunday. It is our firm view that consumers will simply purchase on a Saturday what they intend to consume on a Sunday
or that they will purchase it at illegal outlets which do not adhere to prescribed trading hours
. There is no scientific evidence that we can find which confirms a direct relationship between reduced trading hours and reduced consumption. Rather, restrictions generally encourage increased consumption of a particular commodity, in this case, alcohol. Instead of imposing a blanket embargo on alcohol purchases for off-premises consumption on a Sunday, the Municipality should consider the dissemination of appropriate educational materials on responsible alcohol consumption. If you believe that the proposed by-law will make little if any difference to responsible alcohol consumption by introducing a Sunday ban, please consider voting AGAINST the Overstrand Municipality’s proposed bylaw.
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