Mpumalanga shebeeners, taverners and their patrons yesterday ridiculed ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula's suggestion that they give up drinking alcohol on Sundays.

Buti Madalane, who owns a tavern in Thulamahashe, said they would lose a fortune if they had to close their businesses on Sundays.

"We are permitted by law to sell liquor on Sundays. Calling on us to stop will kill our businesses," he said.

"Let the league advise its members to stop buying and drinking liquor on Sundays," he said, "but they should not try to impose their will on whole communities."

Chairman of the South African Liquor Traders Association, Saint Madlala, said different legal restrictions applied in different provinces.

"The Liquor Act for all provinces, except Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, is still being formulated.

"We hope the government will complete it soon. Those two provinces have their own provincial Liquor Acts. The rest is still to follow," said Madlala. - Riot Hlatshwayo