A liquor licence – also referred to as an alcohol licence, liquor permit, or liquor licence certificate – is what you need if you want to sell alcohol in South Africa, whether once-off or as a business. Scorpion explains the 6 different types of licences you can apply for.
Standard liquor licences
These are permanent licences to sell alcohol in South Africa.
- Micro-manufacture, for both on- and offsite consumption: A licence to micro-manufacture and sell liquor for consumption both on and off the premises where the liquor is sold.
Examples: Wine farm, wine cellar, brewery, distillery.
- Onsite consumption: A licence to sell liquor for consumption on the specific premises where the liquor is sold.
Examples: Restaurant, coffee shop, guesthouse, hotel, shebeens, pubs.
- Offsite consumption: A licence that allows you to sell liquor from the premises or online. However, the liquor must be taken away and consumed off the premises.
Examples: Liquor store, online sales.
- On- and offsite consumption (only under exceptional circumstances): A licence allowing customers to consume alcoholic drinks with a meal, but also purchase closed bottles of liquor for consumption off the premises.
Example: Deli, restaurant.
Temporary liquor licences
In addition to permanent licences, there are two types of temporary liquor licences as well.
- Standard temporary licence: This licence is for when you have a valid permanent liquor licence, but want to sell your liquor from a different but temporary venue. For example, you want to sell your beer at a festival.
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.
- Event licence: This is the licence you need if you are hosting an event like a fundraiser or festival and want to sell liquor. As the host of the event, you will need a liquor licence (the individual sellers at your event will need their own, separate licence). This means you are not usually a seller of alcohol, ie you are not in the trade, your event is once-off. Anyone above the age of 18 who has not been disqualified can apply for an event liquor licence.
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* This is only basic legal advice and cannot be relied on solely. Information is correct at the time of being sent to publishing.