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Liquor Act, 2003 (Act No. 59 of 2003)

Regulations

National Liquor Norms and Standards

4. National Norms and Standards

4.1 Agreement on the ultimate date for harmonization of provincial legislation with the Liquor Act, 2003

 

(4.1.1) The Liquor Act, 2003 came into law on 26 April 2006 and one of its objectives is to establish National Norms and Standards in order to maintain economic unity within the liquor industry. The Liquor Act, 2003 also provides the much needed aligned legal framework through which the regulation of the liquor industry should eventually move from the old and fragmented liquor regulation framework under the Liquor Act 27 of 1989 ("Liquor Act, 1989").

 

(4.1.2) Schedule 1 of the Liquor Act, 2003 confirms that the Liquor Act, 1989 shall remain in force within a province until such date as determined in accordance with sub-items (2) and (3) and declared by notice in the Gazette.

 

(4.1.3) Considering that almost ten years have passed since the Liquor Act, 2003 came into law, it has become imperative for purposes of effective and efficient liquor regulation that South Africa operates from a harmonised legal framework and that the old way of regulating liquor is totally eradicated.

 

(4.1.4) For this purpose, all provincial liquor legislation must be harmonised with the Liquor Act, 2003.The Liquor Act, 1989 must be repealed in all provinces by the end of the financial year 2016-2017 as it creates incoherence, fragmentation and limits the ability to enforce liquor laws in South Africa.

 

(4.1.5) The national and provincial departments responsible for liquor regulation should work together to ensure that the drafting of legislation in those provinces that still operate in terms of the old legislation takes place without delay in order to meet this deadline.