UNB Wants Separate Liquor Licensing for African

UNB WANTS SEPARATE LIQUOR LICENSING FOR AFRICAN TRADITIONAL BEER

United National Breweries (UNB), in partnership with the Gauteng Liquor Licensing Offi ce, hosted a Traditional African Liquor Indaba (Summit) recently in Alexander to highlight the challenges faced by the traditional beer sector. The Indaba was supported by the Traditional Leaders and Healers Association, Department of Social Development and retailers of traditional African Beer.

UNB is the leading manufacturer of Traditional African Sorghum Beer (Umqombothi) in South Africa. National Manager for Licensing and Trade Relations at UNB, Gift Sethunya, said they were concerned about the regulating and licensing of African liquor and the negative eff ects of homebrewed concoctions. “We decided to engage the authorities, communities and all our stakeholders regarding these matters to fi nd permanent solutions.” Sethunya said the current liquor legislation in Gauteng and other provinces makes trading of African Beer diffi cult because it has been regulated the same as commercial liquor which has a high consumption and huge market. “For example when the current legislation restricts the operation of more than one liquor outlet within 500 metre radius, it closes doors for anyone who would like to sell African Beer because in township there is always a tavern or shebeen within the specifi ed zoning. And it’s for this reason that we’re proposing that trading of African Beer be regulated independently because the legislation applied in the current form closes opportunity for traders of Traditional African Beer.”

Sethunya said after engaging with the Liquor Licensing Offi ce in Gauteng and Free State, UNB’s proposed Traditional African Beer Act has been included in the Draft Liquor Bill which is still to be tabled before the legislature in the respective provinces and they will also engage other provinces. He said the UNB was also concerned about the home-brewed concoctions and they want government and all concerned stakeholders to step in and monitor the manufacturing of the beer. Sethunya said it was important that all home-brewers comply with the Liquor Product Act for the hygiene and health safety of consumers.

He said UNB is compelled to champion the cause of Umqombothi and strives to uphold the image of this amazing product in all of its endeavours of producing and taking it to market.