Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a liquor license?
Any business/person who wants to trade (including marketing and selling) in liquor, must have a liquor license. In other words, if an invoice is issued for liquor products and an income is generated because of the sale of liquor products, a liquor license or National Registration must be applied for.
Who can apply for a liquor license?
If you meet the following criteria, you can apply for a liquor license:
1. The premises are correctly zoned.
2. The Applicant and/or its directors/members are not disqualified in terms of Section 35 of the Liquor Act. (see Disqualification of Applicants).
3. The Applicant must have a right to occupy the premises.
4. The owner/landlord consents to liquor being sold from its premises.
5. The premises and location of the premises are suitable for the intended purpose.
Who cannot apply for a liquor license?
The following persons are disqualified from holding liquor licenses
- Anyone who has, within 5 years prior to the lodgement of the application been sentenced to imprisonment without the option to pay a fine.
- Anyone who has, within 5 years prior to the lodgement of the application been declared unfit to hold a registration by the National Liquor Authority or licence by the Provincial Liquor Authority.
- Anyone who is a minor upon the date of consideration of the application.
- Anyone who is the holder of a license that was canceled in terms of the provisions of the Liquor Act, or an Act regulating liquor licenses in any Province within a period of 12 months prior to the lodgement of the application.
- Anyone who is the spouse or life partner of a person described in 1 – 4 above.
- Anyone who is mentally ill as defined in the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002.
Can you apply for a liquor license if you have a criminal record?
A person with a criminal record may apply for a license, but the application will have to be motivated. The Liquor Authority will decide after consideration of the application.
How long does an application take?
Provincial applications:
Section 36 – new liquor licences may take approximately 6 months, and trading may be interrupted.
Other applications take approximately 4 months, but it depends largely on outstanding administration at the Liquor Authority. These applications include:
With other minor applications such as:
Section 65 – transfer of liquor licences
Section 66(2) – removal applications
Section53(1)(a) – alteration applications
Section 53(1)(b) – change of nature of licensed premises
Section 51 – change of financial interest:
Section 49(6) – amendment of licence conditions
Section 48(1) – temporary licences
Section 48(4) – events licences
Kindly note that the above time periods are merely estimates and are subject to change and dependent on various factors.
How long does it take to register as a distributor/manufacturer or both with the National Liquor Authority?
Provided that all requirements are met when submitting the application, new liquor licence registrations take between 90 to 180 days to complete.
When is a license renewable?
Provincial licenses: All provincial liquor licenses must be renewed annually before 31 December. Licenses can be renewed with penalties, calculated at 50 % per month until the end of March of the following year. If the license is not renewed and/or penalties are not paid if it is paid after 31 December, the license will lapse. National registrations: All national registrations must be renewed every 12 calendar months on the anniversary date of the registration certificate (Form NLA9). Should the license not be renewed by such date, it can still be renewed by way of payment penalties of 25 % per month up until four months after the registration date, whereafter the NLA has the right to cancel the license.
What is an event license?
A liquor license is required for special events like weddings, festivals, markets, etc. When applying for this type of liquor license, the applicant needs to be an organizer of the event. The event must be proved by way of advertising or promotional material for the full duration of the event. Whether the event entails on- or off-premises consumption, the application must include the required documentation and must be lodged at least 39 days before the event starts for the license to be granted for the duration of the event.
What is a temporary license?
A temporary licence can be applied for by using an existing valid liquor licence. One can use a specific licence for a maximum of 30 days per year for purposes of temporary licence applications. An application can be made for 14 days at a time. Holders of off- or on-consumption liquor licences can apply for temporary licences on condition that the nature of the temporary licence is in line with the type of licence used for purposes of the application, in other words, one can only use an on-consumption licence for on-consumption purposes and vice versa. Holders of micro-manufacturing liquor licences however cannot apply for temporary liquor licences. Temporary liquor licences are not granted for premises where there is a pending new licence application in terms of Section 36, nor in cases where there is a pending removal application in terms of Section 66(2).
