The National African Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) is prepared to fight the proposed liquor bill in court should the government go ahead and increase the legal minimum drinking age to 21 years.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon at a media briefing in Brynston‚ north of Johannesburg‚ Nafcoc president Lawrence Mavundla said the proposed bill was unfair and unrealistic.

 Also at the briefing was Free Market Foundation executive director Leon Louw who also opposed the bill.

Mavundla said they were waiting for the revised version of last year’s 20-plus page document to become public so that they could scrutinise it further.

 The Department of Trade and Industry (dti)‚ which made the proposal‚ is expected to release a new document soon.

The current paper wants alcohol traders to sell about 500 metres away from residential areas while buyers and drinkers are expected to be 21 years old.

 “We are currently engaging with various provincial and national government departments and other interest groups to get their buy in. We will look at the document when it becomes available. If dti does not want to budge we will have no choice but to take the matter to court‚” Mavundla said.

Mavundla was behind the successful bid by Johannesburg CDB hawkers who took the council to court for forcefully removing them last year.

 Nafcoc said the proposed liquor bill would kill small business in the townships.