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 'While the intentions behind the legislation are good, it presents a difficulty for the seller: how do they know if a woman is pregnant? Many women do not appear pregnant until the third trimester' - Industry's Association for Responsible Alcohol Use 

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The draft Gauteng Liquor Bill of 2012, released today and awaiting public comment, will prohibit the sale of alcohol to pregnant women, the DA said.

“Pregnant women in this province are in for a surprise next time they stop off to buy a bottle of champagne,” spokesman Gavin Lewis said in a statement.    

According to section 53(1) of the draft legislation, a licensed liquor trader would not be allowed to sell, supply or give alcohol to minors, anyone wearing a school uniform, anyone who “reasonably appears to be intoxicated”, or pregnant women.

“Actuated no doubt by the real concerns around foetal alcohol syndrome, this provision is likely to have all sorts of unanticipated consequences in the law courts,” Lewis said. These included possible conflict with the Constitution and gender equity regulations, he said.

Meanwhile, according to the draft legislation, a licence application must be accompanied by the “broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) or black economic empowerment status of the applicant indicating the shareholding, member’s interest or partnership structure of the applicant”.

Section 17(1) states that the MEC may issue regulations directing that all applicants must meet a certain BBBEE status within a determined period.

Lewis said the BEE provisions in the bill could add to the burden of small businesses, who would likely find it more difficult  to implement than big industries.

Despite these concerns, Lewis said the bill did indicate “a real desire to clamp down on substance abuse” and tighten the responsibilities of liquor outlets.

Comments

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Thu May 23 09:52:59 SAST 2013 ::

Feb 6, 2012

RobinH

And how on earth will this be enforced. Demand a certified "non-pregnant" declaration every time a female wants to buy a drink? Ridiculous. I agree that pregnant women should not consume alcohol. but this is just totally unrealistic.
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Feb 6, 2012

DJWinner

Well, this is good. We are tired of women giving birth to drunkers, kids starting to drink while they are still in wombs.
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Feb 6, 2012

Zulugal

No point in making laws that cannot be enforced,waste of time and taxpayer's money.Not drinking alcohol is an individuals' decision...if women want to give birth to deformed children due to their bad habits ,then let them live with the consequences******
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Feb 6, 2012

pierre2000

Good move. I 101% support it
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Feb 6, 2012

Bumboklaat

Awe! It's about time, but how the h.ell is it going to be implemented? It really is sickening to see a pregnant woman gulping galons of alcohol and not having a care in the world about the effects on the unborn child. I have seen FAS babies and it's really heartbreaking.
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Feb 6, 2012

somaartakeit

Eish in theory this is 'nice' bill, but I can't see how this will be enforced cause there is also a bill preventing sale of alcohol and cigarettes to the minors but its not enforceable cause the young of this country still consume this, eg the under-aged girl who was plied with alcohol by the DA MP mnqantsane before having sex with her, so if even when high ranking politicians can not respect and uphold laws of the country, what good are these laws then DA?

Also I think its a responsibility of a pregnant person to not put her child to risk, also I see some pregnant women continue to smoke even though tobacco health risks are well documented,

well said @Zulugal!
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Feb 6, 2012

Ann

go a tshwana mos,
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Feb 6, 2012

maezizsto

Ann
go a tshwana mos,
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
A go tshwane niks this a good thing,the next thing tlabe ba tla ko wena go tlo ntsha dipopelo akere
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Feb 6, 2012

Shredder

"The draft Gauteng Liquor Bill of 2012, released today and awaiting public comment, will prohibit the sale of alcohol to pregnant women, the DA said."

They will their friends to buy it for them
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Feb 6, 2012

Bumboklaat

@maezizsto
Ann
go a tshwana mos,
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
A go tshwane niks this a good thing,the next thing tlabe ba tla ko wena go tlo ntsha dipopelo akere
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kikikikikiki! Hao? kante @Ann o ntsha dipopelo?
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