Police to fully enforce Liquor Act
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday November 15, 2017 19:29
This law, according to Selebi-Phikwe Police Station Commander Superintendent Victor Nlebesi, will be enforced alongside others as part of the 60 Days of Actions Against Crime and road accidents and will apply even beyond the festive season.
The station commander added that forcing the bartenders to open the drinks will curb excuses where customers buy a lot of drinks before the restaurants are closed and continue to drink way after the business closes. “These are the explanations we get during our raids.”
He said this is necessary because they have realised that businesses with bar liquor restaurant licences abuse the licences and disregard their requirements by selling beyond stipulated times especially those operating liquor restaurants.
Nlebesi added that only bottle stores are allowed to sell sealed drinks. He noted that liquor restaurants are not allowed to sell alcohol after 22:30 hours but they can remain open to sell food. “Licence owners abuse the licences so much that it is overwhelming, but they know that they must sell from unsealed vessels. They must now start opening the drinks to ensure that lawlessness is averted,” he said.
“So do not be surprised when we enforce this law exactly the way it is written. We have consulted with all liquor restaurant owners on all the existing laws and the laws will be duly executed and we won’t stop even after the festive season.”
Nlebesi also warned that continuous disregard of Liquor Act may lead to revocation of the licence. He said other business operators also continue to lodge complaints about such tendencies and said even hygiene is compromised.
The station commander noted that the community should join forces with the police to end road carnages and other crimes during the 60 Days of Action Against Crime and road accidents that started on November 1 to December 31.
He added that they have mobilised such that the police presence will be more visible in all areas while at the same time they will conduct public education on crime prevention in conjunction with the community clusters.