Make sure you have the right liquor licence for your outlet
If you sell alcohol in any type of establishment – bottle store, grocery shop, bar or restaurant – you need a liquor licence. You also need a licence if you are holding an event and wish to sell alcoholic drinks.
What type of licence do you need? That will depend on the nature of your establishment.
Types of licence
There are four standard types of liquor licence:
- Micro-manufacture on- & off-consumption
- On-consumption
- Off-consumption
- On- and off-consumption (only under exceptional circumstances)
Examples of each include:
- Micro-manufacture on- & off-consumption – Wine farm / Wine Cellar / Brewery / Distillery
- On-consumption – Bar or restaurant
- Off-consumption – Liquor store or grocery shop
- On- and off-consumption – Deli, where, for example, patrons can enjoy a glass of wine or beer with a meal but also purchase closed bottles of liquor for consumption off the premises.
In addition to these permanent licences, there are two types of temporary licence: temporary and event liquor licence.
Temporary licence
A temporary licence is needed when an existing licence holder wishes to sell liquor from an alternative, temporary venue. This could be a weekend market or seasonal pop-up event. Temporary liquor licences can run for up to 14 consecutive days at a time but cannot be granted for more than 30 days in a calendar year. Note that the process for applying for a temporary licence is almost as rigorous as for a permanent licence, and is for existing licence holders only.
Event licence
This is the licence you need if you are hosting a fundraiser or other event and want to sell liquor. You are not in the trade and your event is a one-off. Anyone above the age of 18 who has not been disqualified can apply for an event liquor licence. You must apply at least 40 days before your event date, but don’t leave it to the last minute as there is quite a lot of documentation to compile to support your application.
How to apply
Follow the correct procedures and secure your licence in good time, with the minimum of hassle. Let expert liquor licensing lawyer SD Law manage the application process for you affordably and efficiently.
Simon Dippenaar & Associates, Inc. (SDLAW) is a Cape Town-based general practice of attorneys, notaries and conveyancers, with offices in Cape Town CBD and Johannesburg. SDLAW offers a comprehensive range of legal services including – but by no means limited to – family law, divorce, bail, eviction and liquor licensing. All clients enjoy personal attention, complete confidentiality and absolute dedication, whatever the type of case. SDLAW focuses on finding the solution to clients’ legal problems as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The firm is sensitive to the need for legal costs to be affordable and has a number of fixed-rate packages for core services.
Founding director Simon Dippenaar has a reputation for client empathy and is passionate about the Constitution and the citizens’ rights it contains. He is a strong advocate for social justice and believes everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, whatever their circumstances. He is driven to succeed for his clients but never loses sight of the need to be sympathetic and understanding. The situation that provokes a call to an attorney is often accompanied by stress, worry and psychological upheaval. Simon’s soft skills in reassuring clients match his professional, “hard” skills in negotiating and defending legal rights.
SDLAW is committed to increasing access to justice and provides discounted legal expertise to deserving cases where appropriate. Simon regularly participates in public discussions on social and political issues, particularly where Constitutional Law is concerned.
Simon believes that:
“Recognition, respect and ethical responsibility are at the core of my practice.”
He turns words into actions by providing meaningful, relevant pro bono services in local communities.