The organisers or owners of any “public viewing event” of Soccer World Cup games will have to pay R50000 for a special liquor licence, the Independent Online reported today (February 18).

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 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 R50000.

“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

Source: The Herald Online

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