How To Get A Liquor License In South Africa

   
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How To Get A Liquor License In South Africa

How To Get A Liquor License In South Africa
How To Get A Liquor License In South Africa

Liquor License In South Africa

Concerning liquor license applications, there are a few errors that many people commit. What exactly is a liquor license? Anyone who manufactures, sells, or distributes alcohol must have the appropriate documentation. Your application must be approved by the liquor control board, and every province has a different board and set of regulations.

Who Is Eligible To Apply For A Liquor License?

Anyone who is at least 18 years old may apply. Businesses and nearby firms are both eligible to apply. Any additional people or organizations are eligible to apply for a liquor license. The following people are ineligible to apply, and if they do, their applications will be turned down:

  • Anyone who has been given a prison term without the chance to pay a fine
  • Those who have been deemed insolvent but have not yet received rehabilitation
  • A business, close corporation, or cooperative in which one or both of the aforementioned individuals owns stock or has membership interests.

ALSO SEE: How Much Does a Liquor License Cost in South Africa?

Liquor License

Online applications for liquor licenses are accessible for all of South Africa’s provinces. Certified copies of identification documents, business registration documents, proofs of address, and a municipally authorized floor plan are all necessary for obtaining a liquor license. A tax clearance certificate and, if relevant, a BEE certificate are also required. For your convenience, the prerequisites and online forms for liquor licenses are listed. Applications for liquor stores and downloads of liquor license forms are both accessible.

Cost Of A Liquor License

What is the cost of a liquor license in SA? If properly applied for, it typically takes four months to get it. Watch wary for those who claim to be able to complete the process for less than R10,000, as with anything else. This is not feasible. Spend more money on doing it correctly. Between R15,000 and R25,000 is what it costs.

How To Get A Liquor License In South Africa

1. The location must be in compliance with the requested license type.
There are different kinds of liquor licenses, and each one has a specific location-specific set of requirements. You must therefore be informed of the requirements for the various types and make sure that your firm satisfies them.

2. The location’s zoning needs to be accurate. You must be aware of the several zoning classifications that apply as well as their advantages and specifications. Make sure the location complies with those requirements. If you have the proper papers but the incorrect zoning, you cannot sell.

3. You can apply even before the building is done. You are not required to wait for the upgrades to be finished before submitting an application. You do not need to wait because the board has no trouble awarding interim licenses while the premises are being finished.

4. You will also need to apply to the board to increase the license and specify any changes you have made to the property if the premises are expanded or changed after the papers were awarded.

5. The applicant must not have a criminal history relating to drinking. People with criminal histories may apply under the liquor legislation. However, those with criminal histories relating to alcohol use may not be eligible.

6. It is possible to answer objections that were made after the application. After an application is submitted, local residents are allowed to voice their concerns, and the liquor officer then delivers a police report. Do not consider these challenges to be the end of the world. You can successfully address them and still have your application approved.

7. Renewal intervals. Do not forget to renew your license annually. If you don’t renew it by the deadline, it will expire, and you will have to apply for a new one once it does. You don’t want to find yourself in a scenario where you can’t sell alcohol for four to five months while you wait for a new one.

8. The Government Gazette publishes applications on the first Friday of every month. Make sure your application is timely; if not, you might have to wait until the following month. The more time you lose, the more money you lose because time is of the essence.

9. Individuals do not own the licenses. How is a liquor license transferred in South Africa? The location is the one who receives the documents, not the individual. Because of this, it cannot be given from one person to another to be used somewhere other than where it was issued.

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