Pretoria - The North West Provincial Government is in the process of finalising a provincial liquor policy which it will use to inform a Provincial Liquor Bill aligned to the National Liquor Act 59 of 2003.
The draft policy was presented for deliberations during the Executive Council (Exco) meeting held in Mahikeng earlier in the week.
“The proposed policy, which was drafted after wide consultation with various stakeholders, was after consideration deferred for further refinement to address the concerns of Exco about the contribution of alcohol towards crime, the scourge of rape, road accidents, and about taverns and shebeens that are operating until the early hours of the morning, denying residents peaceful sleep.
“The policy should close identified loopholes for effective law enforcement and also respond to concerns of our communities about taverns that are operating near schools, churches and inconsiderate noise levels that emanate from these establishments that in some instances disturb entire neighbourhoods,” said Premier Thandi Modise.
Modise said Exco was adamant that the economic and social policy should balance the broader benefits and costs of daily activities, as affected by the production and retail of liquor in the province.
She said Exco wanted to see an appropriate mix of enterprise and regulation to balance the interest of all participants in the liquor trade and society as a whole. – SAnews.gov.za
