Alcohol Policy Alliance calls for moratorium on sale of booze at petrol stations
Updated | By Nokukhanya N Mntambo
The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in SA (SAAPA SA) wants government to issue a moratorium on the issuing of licences that allow alcohol to be sold at petrol stations.
This comes after BP and their forecourt shop partner Pick n Pay Express were awarded a Grocer’s Licence earlier this year which allows them to sell wine.
This was a first the country and the industry.
BP has applied for 3 additional licences in Gauteng, while SASOL applied for 1.
SAAPA SA says there are indications that similar applications have been made in the Western Cape.
Director of SAAPA SA Maurice Smithers says the move is in violation of the national Liquor Policy and the national Liquor Amendment Bill.
The bill is currently being reviewed by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition prior to being sent to Parliament.
“The problem is that the bill has taken too long and so provinces who issue retail licences don’t feel obligated to abide by the 2016 liquor policy.
“Allowing international petrol companies like BP and huge supermarket chains like Pick ’n Pay to get liquor licenses on petrol station premises is simply helping them to increase their profits at the expense of the health and safety of the people of South Africa and deepens the economic imbalance in the country,” Smithers adds.
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He believes the easy access to alcohol through petrol stations will only add to the country’s woes.
“It will almost certainly add to the high rate of drunk driving in the country and there is also the strong possibility the illicit sale of alcohol will take place outside the legal operating hours.
“In addition to urging provinces not to issue licences to petrol station premises, we are calling on the minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to fast track the processing on the Liquor Amendment Bill."
Listen to Smithers below:
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