If you own a restaurant or bar in South Africa, the first thing on your mind is probably how to get customers. The second most important issue, however, is how to keep them coming back. To do that, you need to make sure they have a great experience every time they visit your establishment. One way to do this is by providing them with an excellent selection of drinks and food items that are consistently delicious and served at just the right temperature. However, if you want to serve alcohol at your business (and we assume that’s why you’re reading this), there are some additional steps involved in obtaining an appropriate liquor license before getting started.

Liquor Licensing Application Process

Before you can apply for a liquor licence, it is important to understand the application process. Applying for a liquor license differs in each province and changes depending on the type of application you are making.

In Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban it is possible to apply either through the provincial department where your business is located or online at www.licensinggazette.co.za

In other provinces like Mpumalanga and North West, they only accept applications through their provincial departments as there is no online system available yet.

The following information will help guide you through the different processes:

Liquor Licence Requirements:

To apply for a liquor licence, you must provide the following documents:

• Signed application form (available from your local SAPS or DTI office)
• Original ID document
• Proof of address (utility bill with your name and address on it, lease agreement with your name on it)
• Proof of age (ID document showing your birthday). If you don’t have an ID document that states your date of birth, you can use another form of ID that does state this information. For example, authorities will accept a passport or driving license as proof of age.

Documents Required for a Liquor Licence Application In South Africa

• Liquor Licence Application Form
• Business Plan
• Proof of Identity
• Proof of Residency
• Business Registration Certificate (if applicable)
• Business Bank Statement (if applicable)

How Long Does it Take to get a Liquor Licence in South Africa?

It depends on the province, the application, and your business type. Some provinces have special application processes that can take longer. For example, KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Board has a three-month turnaround time while others allow you to apply online and then simply wait for your licence to be issued once you submit all required documents.

How long does it take for my liquor license application to be approved or denied?

The timeline for approvals or denials varies depending on how many applicants there are and how many licences are available in your province of residence. For example, if you live in Gauteng or Western Cape (and thus have access to online applications), expect an average turnaround time of around two weeks from submission until receipt of notice from the licensing authority regarding whether your application was successful.*

How much does it cost to apply for a liquor licence?

The cost of a liquor licence application varies, depending on the province. The following fees apply:

• Western Cape: R1 000 (plus R700 for each additional licence or special permit)
• Eastern Cape: R250 (plus R70 for each additional licence or special permit)
• North-West Province: R2 000 (plus R400 for each additional licence or special permit)

Liquor Sales Restrictions

You will need to provide your ID number, as well as the name, address and contact details of your employer. You can also apply for a liquor license in your name if you are self-employed.

If you are under the age of 18 or 21 years old, you cannot apply for a liquor license as it is illegal to serve alcohol to minors.

A liquor license can be tricky to get, and there are many laws and rules surrounding the process.

Applying for a liquor license can be very tricky. Many laws and regulations surround the licencing process and you must get it right from the start. The key factors to consider when applying for your liquor licence are:

• The alcohol law in your province. This will determine what type of licence you need, who is allowed to apply, as well as how much they will cost.
• Your location around other businesses (for example, restaurants). If there are several restaurants near each other then they may impact whether you will be granted a liquor licence by authorities because there could be too much competition between different outlets located close by each other in this case – however, if there aren’t any restaurants within walking distance then perhaps this isn’t such an issue!

Conclusion

In South Africa, getting a liquor license is not an easy process and there are many rules to follow. You need to have all your documents in order and you will also have to submit them to the relevant authorities for approval before being granted permission to sell alcoholic beverages. The cost of applying for liquor licences depends on what type of licence you would like (i.e., a pub or bottle store) but it should not exceed R50 000 in total costs when added up over time from start until after opening day. This article has hopefully provided some useful information about how best to go about obtaining one!